A unique flat has now been granted Grade II listed status following a determined campaign to save it.
From the outside, ‘Ron’s Place’, on Silverdale Road, Birkenhead, Wirral, looks like any other rented flat – and those walking by would have had no clue as to the masterpiece found inside. Over the course of four decades, Ron Gittins had secretly transformed his ordinary ground-floor home into a wonderland straight out of a dream – a lived-in creation inspired by the artworks of ancient Greece and Egypt.
Ron’s relatives had no clue whatsoever however until after his death in 2019, at the age of 79. After the property was put up for sale in 2022, campaign group Saving Ron’s Place group stepped up to save it – with members including the likes of legendary Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker.
Now Ron’s Place has been granted Grade II listing by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on the advice of Historic England, becoming the first example of what is called Outsider Art to be nationally listed. Outsider Art refers to works created by artists with little or no formal training, made outside the influence of the mainstream.
Sarah Charlesworth, Listing Team Leader North at Historic England, said: “Ron’s Place is testament to the unique artistic achievements and vision of Ron Gittins over four decades. The extent to which Ron’s creations have inspired action from people in the local area to raise funds to purchase the building and secure the survival of his legacy demonstrates the value of this remarkable project and why it has earned its place on the National Heritage List for England.”
When her older brother died in 2019, his older sister Pat Williams wasn’t sure what to expect when she entered his rented flat to collect his belongings. An eccentric but much-loved character, Ron hadn’t invited any of his family members inside his home for years – and they weren’t sure what would meet them.
A well-known character in Birkenhead, he was often spotted strolling around in his homemade military costumes. But he was also a total mystery to those who loved him – with his weird and wonderful private world only uncovered after his death.
Fuelled by his love for ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, Ron had transformed his rented home into his very own highly ornate classical “villa.” Virtually every surface features murals of historical scenes, along with three stunning concrete fireplace sculptures of a roaring lion, a bull, and what appears to be a temple. His work struck a chord with many people – including celebrities and rockstars.
“We can all relate to people who do their houses up, everybody decorates their house in some way,” Cocker previously told The Guardian. “Ron has just gone that extra mile.”
He added the lion’s head fireplace, moulded by Gittins in concrete, was “unbelievable”. “I have always been interested in the art of people who haven’t gone through the normal channels, they haven’t gone to art college and stuff like that,” he said. “They have an idea and they follow it through. We all have creativity within us.”
From the outside, it’s impossible to gauge what to expect inside the Victorian terrace, previously reported the Liverpool Echo. But inside is a treasure trove that has to be seen to be believed – with incredible features including a 3m-tall fireplace in the shape of a lion’s head, and another of a minotaur.
Speaking about the incredible home, Pat previously said “When we first went inside after he died I had the shock of my life because it was absolutely full of all sorts of stuff. How he coped in there I just don’t know.
“I don’t appreciate all his art but what he’s done is incredible. The fireplaces are extraordinary.” As a youngster, Ron showed promise as an artist and studied at the Laird School of Art in Birkenhead.
Pat, 82, says: “As a child he was hyperactive and very creative. When he was a boy he used to make little soldiers out of plasticine that were from all types of regiments and countries. The details in the uniforms were incredible.
“He used to get into trouble in school for attention seeking and being what was thought to be mischevious and a little bit naughty but I think he was just bored a lot of the time. Today he would be diagnosed on the autism spectrum, I’m sure of it, and be treated with much more acceptance.”
Ron died a month before his 80th birthday, and became more eccentric in his later years, with Pat recalling him turning up to Pat’s 80th birthday in a thick coat, wellies, a wig, and a hat “in case his head got cold”. A popular sight in his local village, he was often spotted wearing homemade military costumes and pushing an old-fashioned pram which he would fill with bags of cement used to build his gigantic fireplaces.
Other times he took his life-sized papermache model of Egyptian queen Cleopatra out for a stroll. After his death, a local family told Pat they used to shout “Ron alert” if they spotted him through the window before rushing to see what costume he was wearing.
Instead of flowers on his coffin, his sister placed two of his hats and a wig in a tribute to her much-loved sibling. The pair stayed in touch until his death – though her brother’s eccentric views sometimes strained their relationship.
Pat said: “He resented the fact that I was the eldest and a woman. He had this view that men are really the ones that should be in charge. But he was a very big supporter of Margaret Thatcher.” She added: “I was sad that he died on his own but he didn’t want everybody to know he wasn’t well and he didn’t want to go to hospital. He lived life on his own terms.”
Now the flat is being looked after by his niece Jan Williams, Pat’s daughter, who is also an artist. Art consultant Angela Samata previously said Ron’s work is a fascinating example of ‘Outsider Art’ – a term used to describe work created outside the mainstream art world.
She says: “It’s so important to keep this because it’s not very often that we uncover these Outside Art environments that are created by an individual like Ron for their own pleasure. He’s almost created this fantasy world. It’s wonderful to hear that so few people have stepped across the threshold.”
Keen to preserve her uncle’s home for artists and other people to enjoy in the future, Jan was able to secure a lease with the building’s owners, social landlord Salisbury Management Services. Through their’ artist collaboration The Caravan Gallery, she and partner Chris launched a campaign to protect his legacy as an extraordinary example of Outsider Art – and their efforts ultimately paid off.
They also wanted to restore its former entrance, which Ron had flanked with Egyptian statues that he had eventually had to remove for safety reasons. Pat says: “I’m sad that he didn’t receive more acclaim publicly when he was alive but maybe he wanted to be discovered afterwards. I do think it’s lovely he will be remembered for many years to come. We had difficult times but you couldn’t help but love him.”
Speaking after the building received listed status, proud niece Jan reflected: “I believe Ron would be made up and very proud at all the attention he’s receiving, and thrilled his work is being recognised and appreciated – he only kept it secret because you’re not really supposed to turn your rented flat into a Roman villa complete with epic concrete fireplaces are you?
“When I was sorting through Ron’s possessions following his death I discovered an incorrectly addressed postcard he’d tried to send me. He said he couldn’t wait to show me what he’d been working on next time I was home.
“I feel sad to have missed out on so much of my Uncle Ron’s complicated but intriguing story in the past but it’s good to know his creativity will inspire future generations.”
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