A Wirral flat described as "a living palace of outsider art" has been granted Grade II listing status.
Located on Silverdale Road in Oxton, the ground floor flat, affectionately known as ‘Ron’s Place’, was turned into an extraordinary gallery by former resident Ron Gittins.
He filled it with intricate murals depicting historical scenes and hand-crafted concrete fireplaces in the shape of a roaring lion’s head in which he cooked his food, a minotaur’s head (a minotaur is a mythical creature with the body of a man and the head and tail of a bull) and even a Roman bread oven.
Ron passed away in 2019, aged 79, and it was not until his death that the extraordinary interior of his rented flat came to light.
It was granted Grade-II listing status by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the advice of Historic England.
Concealed for more than 30 years within an unassuming Victorian semi-detached villa, Ron Gittins meticulously crafted a striking visionary environment.
The result is a compelling immersive space that reflects Ron’s intense character, combining his imaginative creative abilities and abiding passion for history, following a visit to Pompeii as a young man.
Walking around the property, it is very obvious that Ron's creative imagination permeates every corner of it.
Jarvis Cocker, radio presenter and founder of the Britpop band Pulp, is a patron of Ron’s Place.
He said: "A small number of people on this planet have known for a while that Ron’s Place is a very Special Place - but from now on it is official: Ron’s Place has been given listed status!
"The work of one unique gentleman in the north of England has been recognised nationally. Globally even. Hallelujah."
Alison Bailey Smith is an artist who has lived in Oxton for 20 years and was a neighbour of Ron's. Paying tribute to the 'true eccentric', Alison told the Globe: "I used to see him when I was pushing my son around in a pushchair and I'd see this older man pushing a pram that is in this house.
"I never thought to look into it. He was a man the same age as my father, so there was no way he was pushing a baby, unless he was pushing a grandchild, but I never thought to look into it.
"But, actually. it turned out that he was going down to Rightway to get cement to make these structures. He didn't drive, so the pram was the only means he had to gather his materials.
"I would see this eccentric man out on the street and we would chat occasionally, but not very much.
"When I was working at the Williamson in Oxton he used to come in and talk to the guys on the front desk.
"He was very knowledgeable about Greek and Egyptian art, so all of the great images in the house are taken from a proper source. He would do his research and did like talking to people.
"This is Ron's world. He made his own space and made it how he wanted it. We're delighted with its listing, because it's the only listing of its kind in the UK."
The flat is not open to the public, but the hope is to have controlled public access events in the future.
Campaigners have worked tirelessly to save the property and hopes were raised last year that the flat could be saved after it was purchased at auction by a charitable trust.
The Grade-II listing recognises Ron’s creation as an exemplar of large-scale Outsider Art in England, a creative phenomenon by artists motivated by their personal visions and often working in a compulsive way, usually with no formal training and outside the influence of the mainstream art world.
The flat was rented by Ron in 1986, and he spent the next three decades creating a visionary environment.
With limited formal artistic training, he developed his own very particular world, articulated both through his flat and through the creation of historic costumes.
He would often wear his costumes when out in the local area, but he kept the creations within his home for his own appreciation, with visitors largely discouraged.
Together these aspects sum up both the flamboyantly engaging and deeply private sides of Ron.
Outsider Art is an internationally recognised creative phenomenon that often transcends genres and goes under a variety of umbrella terms, including Art Brut (raw art), Folk art, Intuitive art or Visionary art and Naïve art.
Tate describes Outsider Art as “art that has a naïve quality, often produced by people who have not trained as artists or worked within the conventional structures of art production”.
A key feature of Outsider Art, and the artists involved, is that the work is created without an audience in mind, and often purely for themselves.
Examples of Outsider Art can now be found in galleries in the UK and around the world, including the Musgrave Kinley Outsider Collection at Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester, and at the Tate Britain and Tate St Ives.
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 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."
Martin Wallace, Ron's Place patron, said: "To visit Ron’s Place is a rare and strangely beautiful immersive experience. I've spent time in many ‘outsider art’ environments around the globe and Ron’s Place ranks with the best of them. But its real potential lies beyond its idiosyncratic appeal.
"Experiencing Ron’s Place can be an inspiration towards transformative improvements in wellbeing through creative activity for all kinds of people, from all walks of life, young and old.
"It’s fantastic that Historic England has recognised the unique value and potential of Ron’s Place and chosen to ensure it must now be properly protected for generations to come."
Twentieth Century Society Director, Catherine Croft, said: "This is twentieth century heritage unlike any other, the first example of Outsider Art to be nationally listed.
"At Ron’s Place, one man’s extraordinary creative vision summoned creatures from Greek mythology and the architecture of ancient Roman to a humble ground-floor flat in Birkenhead.
"Proof, if needed, that great art isn’t confined just to established galleries and collections.
"It’s also great news that the Wirral Arts and Culture Community Land Trust (WACCLT) will use the flat for creative arts programming to enhance the health and wellbeing of the people of the Wirral: what better end could there be to this amazing story.”
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