Louise Gray gets an intimate glimpse into the lives of a family of Huguenot weavers in this meticulously presented venue
Where Dennis Severs’ House is an early 18th-century terraced building at 18 Folgate Street in the heart of Spitalfields, in the City of London. It was once a master-weavers’ house.
What The 10-room house and its collection present what its creator, the late artist Dennis Severs, described as “a still-life drama” that spans three centuries of human occupation from 1760 to 1918. Severs bought the house in 1978 for £18,000 from the Spitalfields Trust, which had acquired it from the Corporation of London.
After he died in 1999, Severs left the house to the trust so that it would be preserved. “When Severs moved in, he pulled off all the hardboard panels to reveal the house’s 18th-century rooms and details,” says David Milne, the curator of the house.
Visitors find its fictional Huguenot occupants, the Jervis family, are just out of reach.
Smells of cooking emanate from the basement kitchen, the dinner table is laid, letters are left half-written, but visitors never see the family, even though sounds of their occupation can be heard. Creaks of a loom sound from the attic rooms, where poor weavers would have lodged.
Opened The house was opened to the public in 1985. Before that, Severs allowed entry for two nights a week on winter evenings only. “At £35 a ticket, it was a fortune then,” says Milne.
Collection The curation complements the fictional story of the Jervises. Minute attention to detail characterises the visitor experience at the house. “There is only candlelight throughout,” says Milne. Tapered candles, with a high percentage of beeswax, are used for some rooms while others areas feature pillar candles, which contain more paraffin.
Highlights “Everyone has their own memory of their journey through the house,” Milne says. The sense that the Jervis family are watching the visitors never goes away. “I love the smoking room, with its [recreation] Hogarth painting, and the Dickens room with its four- poster bed,” Milne adds.
Help at hand While the Spitalfields Trust owns the property, the day-to-day running, along with its curation and conservation is managed by Milne and his team. “I chop the firewood, clean the gutters and look after the rooms,” says Milne. The house has a part- time administrator and business manager. “Everyone else on the team is an artist and are all self-employed.”
Budget “The house is self- funded through the admission price and private bookings,” says Milne. Admission is £15 per person but £17.50 for the Silent
Night Christmas installation (until 6 January 2016).
Survival tip The house is an artwork as well as a performance, so act accordingly, advises Milne. The doorman is a classically trained actor, whose tones lend gravity to the experience. “We don’t let anything become static,” Milne adds.
Visitors A maximum of 30 visitors are allowed in the house at any one time.They have to pre-book and a visit typically lasts 45 minutes. The house has limited opening hours.
Future plans “The future of the house is to do what it has done consistently – evolve organically and survive long after we have left it,” says Milne. His long-term plan is to reintroduce Severs to the house via recordings of his voice.
www.dennissevershouse.co.uk
Where Dennis Severs’ House is an early 18th-century terraced building at 18 Folgate Street in the heart of Spitalfields, in the City of London. It was once a master-weavers’ house.
What The 10-room house and its collection present what its creator, the late artist Dennis Severs, described as “a still-life drama” that spans three centuries of human occupation from 1760 to 1918. Severs bought the house in 1978 for £18,000 from the Spitalfields Trust, which had acquired it from the Corporation of London.
After he died in 1999, Severs left the house to the trust so that it would be preserved. “When Severs moved in, he pulled off all the hardboard panels to reveal the house’s 18th-century rooms and details,” says David Milne, the curator of the house.
Visitors find its fictional Huguenot occupants, the Jervis family, are just out of reach.
Smells of cooking emanate from the basement kitchen, the dinner table is laid, letters are left half-written, but visitors never see the family, even though sounds of their occupation can be heard. Creaks of a loom sound from the attic rooms, where poor weavers would have lodged.
Opened The house was opened to the public in 1985. Before that, Severs allowed entry for two nights a week on winter evenings only. “At £35 a ticket, it was a fortune then,” says Milne.
Collection The curation complements the fictional story of the Jervises. Minute attention to detail characterises the visitor experience at the house. “There is only candlelight throughout,” says Milne. Tapered candles, with a high percentage of beeswax, are used for some rooms while others areas feature pillar candles, which contain more paraffin.
Highlights “Everyone has their own memory of their journey through the house,” Milne says. The sense that the Jervis family are watching the visitors never goes away. “I love the smoking room, with its [recreation] Hogarth painting, and the Dickens room with its four- poster bed,” Milne adds.
Help at hand While the Spitalfields Trust owns the property, the day-to-day running, along with its curation and conservation is managed by Milne and his team. “I chop the firewood, clean the gutters and look after the rooms,” says Milne. The house has a part- time administrator and business manager. “Everyone else on the team is an artist and are all self-employed.”
Budget “The house is self- funded through the admission price and private bookings,” says Milne. Admission is £15 per person but £17.50 for the Silent
Night Christmas installation (until 6 January 2016).
Survival tip The house is an artwork as well as a performance, so act accordingly, advises Milne. The doorman is a classically trained actor, whose tones lend gravity to the experience. “We don’t let anything become static,” Milne adds.
Visitors A maximum of 30 visitors are allowed in the house at any one time.They have to pre-book and a visit typically lasts 45 minutes. The house has limited opening hours.
Future plans “The future of the house is to do what it has done consistently – evolve organically and survive long after we have left it,” says Milne. His long-term plan is to reintroduce Severs to the house via recordings of his voice.
www.dennissevershouse.co.uk