‘There is a house in London where you can go and dream!’
I can’t describe 18 Folgate Street in words – it’s best you take a look inside:
‘The theatre of the imagination’ is how Dennis Severs described his remarkable house. He lived there surrounded by his ‘still-life drama’ from 1979 until his death – lit by candlelight and heated by open fires.
He used the bones of the original 1724 building and proceeded to create an imaginary family ‘the Jervises’ – 18th century weavers. He would then give evocative tours where he would tell their story, where history meets the imagination of this remarkable man.
I can’t shut the door of his house without mentioning the work of a young ceramist Simon Pettet, who lived with Severs until Pettet’s untimely death at the age of 27. They met in a London street and soon found themselves on their way back to Folgate Street: ‘How long have you been gay? enquired Severs… ‘Since I got in this taxis’ answered Pettet. His equally witty ceramics add a final touch to this wonderful house.
