The future of a spectacular 'palace of art' hidden behind the humdrum exterior of a red-bricked three-storey terrace hangs in the balance as the building that houses it goes to auction.
The home of Ron's Place, a fantastical grotto of romantic heroines, ancient Greek and Egyptian gods and mythical beasts contained within the ground floor flat of 8 Silverdale Road, Oxton, goes under the hammer tomorrow, with bidding set to close 24 hours later on March 1.
The landlord's decision to sell the property was announced in November, to the dismay of the Wirral Arts and Culture Community Land Trust, whose members have maintained the flat since its discovery in 2019.
READ MORE: Priceless artwork could be 'smashed apart' as house is put up for sale
Jan Williams, Ron's niece and a member of the community, said: "The thought of someone, a builder, getting it and going inside and destroying everything would be heartbreaking. Ron spent years turning this house into an incredible palace of art. Nobody in their right mind would want to get rid of it.
"There's a huge amount of love and support for Ron's Place. We have looked after it all this time and been through all sorts of trials and tribulations, but there's such a positivity surrounding the place. We've had artists, musicians, poets, children, so many people come in and be completely wowed, and really inspired. We need to save it as a community asset, so it can continue to inspire people."
Ron's Place was named after its creator, eccentric artist Ron Gittins, who carefully curated his museum of wonders over a period of 33 years. His art, including a 3m tall lion fireplace, vivid murals and portraits of historic leaders, was not discovered until after his death at the age of 79 in September 2019.
After learning of the landlord's decision to sell the house, the Wirral Arts and Culture Community revealed its hopes to purchase the property with the help of a £25,000 fundraiser. They have also applied for the ground-floor flat to be listed by Historic England, protecting it for future generations.
Community member and filmmaker Martin Wallace said it was vital the art remains in place as the building goes up for auction.
He said: "When people come to Ron's Place, it gives them a lift in their spirits because it's joyous what Ron has done, and it shifts their imagination about what is possible. It's a very unique space to stimulate people's ability to get creative, and that creativity can be a way to help people cope with different circumstances. Ron had mental health conditions, and he used art in a therapeutic way, and that can be a very empowering thing.
"A lot of people get fixated on the art as if it's just about keeping the art. But it's the experience. You come in from a normal street where we all trawl on a daily basis and follow the rules, and here's somebody who has done his own thing in an extravagant way. If you put the art in a gallery, you wouldn't have that feeling of walking in off a street and seeing the place where he lived. You're getting the chance to put yourself in his shoes, and nothing can replicate that.
"It would be a terrible waste, a massive shame, and short-sighted to let something as unique as this go."
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