It was about a year ago to the day, that shirking the ever-present threat of rain, we stumbled into the house of the late, great Mr. Dennis Severs. Shrouded in secrecy and mired by myth, it’s neither a museum, nor a stately home yet is dubbed ‘one of the world’s greatest works of opera’ by painter David Hockney.

“Welcome… prepare to take a journey back through time…” and we proceeded to be led by candlelight through a wonderful tapestry of rooms; from the claustrophobic 18th century basement kitchen, to a sumptuous silken Georgian bedroom, complete with unmade bed, jewel-adorned dresser and just-dripping wash basin, spiralling upwards through time.

Was the lady of the house just in? It’s hard to tell for the Severs house is alive with very real whispers, tangible scents and subtleties that suggest someone is watching you. It’s no wonder it’s been described as the Mary Celeste of the East! On our visit, all house guests, initially overcome with excitement, soon lost their East London brashness and were ushered into awed silence.

Any attempt to describe even an inch of the place would be impossible, if not sacrilegious. Seeing is indeed believing and if in doubt, it’s time you take a trip down Folgate Street…

Text by Lauren De’Ath
Image courtesy of Stephanie Wolff on Flickr