A Brief History of British Eccentricity
Britain is famous for its quirky characters. And some of the nation’s best interiors reflect this collective trait wonderfully
The British are known for their nonconformist style. National treasures include the likes of fashion icon Vivienne Westwood; cross-dressing ceramist and Turner Prize winner Grayson Perry; fellow Turner winners Gilbert & George, known for their identical attire and controversial artworks; and Zandra Rhodes, the pink-haired septuagenarian fashion designer whose safety-pinned 1970s creations earned her the title Princess of Punk. Britain also is home to the fondly regarded, long-standing, registered Official Monster Raving Loony political party. What are the origins of this typically British approach to life and style?
Read 11 secrets of British eccentric style
Read 11 secrets of British eccentric style
“There’s also a good national tradition of not liking to be told what to do, which perhaps goes back as far as the Reformation and the break from Rome,” says Byam Shaw, pictured. “Maybe being an island also makes us feel more independent.”
Interior designer Evros Agathou of Avocado Sweets says: “There’s eccentricity and originality in every culture, but I think Brits have a great tradition of challenging the status quo. Whether it’s fashion or music, there’s a real creativity and sense of humor in the U.K. that draws people in from all over the world.”
Interior designer Evros Agathou of Avocado Sweets says: “There’s eccentricity and originality in every culture, but I think Brits have a great tradition of challenging the status quo. Whether it’s fashion or music, there’s a real creativity and sense of humor in the U.K. that draws people in from all over the world.”
Westwood is famous for continuing to illustrate British eccentricity through her bold designs, including the striking wallpaper in this personality-fueled living room.
There’s also a long history of writing on the topic of our national character trait. In 1933, Edith Sitwell, whose appearance was famously eccentric (she was fond of a brocade gown and a gold turban and, as she stood about 6 feet tall, you couldn’t miss either) published The English Eccentrics, a compendium of “weird and wonderful men and women.” She also grew up in a home one might describe as eccentric. A sign at its entrance, put up by her father, requested: “I must ask anyone entering the house never to contradict me or differ from me in any way, as it interferes with the functioning of the gastric juices and prevents my sleeping at night.”
John Timbs’ English Eccentrics and Eccentricities was published earlier still, in 1866. The compendium of quirky natives dates back to the 1700s. And last year saw the publication of Great British Eccentrics by S.D. Tucker (Amberley Publishing).
In 2008, the late Christopher Hitchens wrote a wonderful piece on British eccentricity in Vanity Fair, in which he explained why his homeland “often seems like one big Monty Python skit.” It must’ve been a tricky piece to edit down since British history is littered with Brits behaving madly!
There’s also a long history of writing on the topic of our national character trait. In 1933, Edith Sitwell, whose appearance was famously eccentric (she was fond of a brocade gown and a gold turban and, as she stood about 6 feet tall, you couldn’t miss either) published The English Eccentrics, a compendium of “weird and wonderful men and women.” She also grew up in a home one might describe as eccentric. A sign at its entrance, put up by her father, requested: “I must ask anyone entering the house never to contradict me or differ from me in any way, as it interferes with the functioning of the gastric juices and prevents my sleeping at night.”
John Timbs’ English Eccentrics and Eccentricities was published earlier still, in 1866. The compendium of quirky natives dates back to the 1700s. And last year saw the publication of Great British Eccentrics by S.D. Tucker (Amberley Publishing).
In 2008, the late Christopher Hitchens wrote a wonderful piece on British eccentricity in Vanity Fair, in which he explained why his homeland “often seems like one big Monty Python skit.” It must’ve been a tricky piece to edit down since British history is littered with Brits behaving madly!
Socialites Stephen and Virginia Courtauld, pictured, were the aristocratic owners and renovators of Eltham Palace, just outside London, in the 1930s. Part of the cutting-edge Art Deco interior they created for their home, dubbed The Party Palace, was a furnished bedroom for their pet, a ring-tailed lemur called Mah-Jongg.
About a century earlier, fellow aristocrat Jack Mytton — who fed his 1,000 dogs on steak and champagne, and dressed his 60 cats in full livery — hosted a dinner party while riding his pet bear, Nell (much to the fear of guests and, eventually, the bear, who relieved Mytton of part of his leg during the stunt). Another 19th-century member of the gentry, William Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck, the fifth duke of Portland, built underground apartments and 15 miles of tunnels under his North Nottinghamshire home, Welbeck Abbey, so he didn’t ever have to see anybody in person except his valet.
Image from Historic England Bridgeman Images
Take a tour of Eltham Palace
About a century earlier, fellow aristocrat Jack Mytton — who fed his 1,000 dogs on steak and champagne, and dressed his 60 cats in full livery — hosted a dinner party while riding his pet bear, Nell (much to the fear of guests and, eventually, the bear, who relieved Mytton of part of his leg during the stunt). Another 19th-century member of the gentry, William Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck, the fifth duke of Portland, built underground apartments and 15 miles of tunnels under his North Nottinghamshire home, Welbeck Abbey, so he didn’t ever have to see anybody in person except his valet.
Image from Historic England Bridgeman Images
Take a tour of Eltham Palace
Britain’s eccentrics aren’t just historical aristocrats. Byam Shaw’s book is packed with contemporary examples of offbeat British homes. There’s the Essex house whose every wall is plastered with vintage political paraphernalia and whose home office Byam Shaw describes as “virtually a shrine to Hillary Clinton.” And the Suffolk cottage where antique toys teeter on every multicolored surface and the country kitchen dresser is painted with rainbow stripes.
And on Houzz, there are plenty of examples of this gloriously British approach to decor. For example, the flat above was transformed into a gothic mansion with dark walls, purple carpet, faux croc skin wallpaper and eye-catching accessories including a full-size camouflage-painted suit of armor.
Check out the other rooms in this dark and dramatic abode
And on Houzz, there are plenty of examples of this gloriously British approach to decor. For example, the flat above was transformed into a gothic mansion with dark walls, purple carpet, faux croc skin wallpaper and eye-catching accessories including a full-size camouflage-painted suit of armor.
Check out the other rooms in this dark and dramatic abode
Another memorable example is the 300-year-old rural Cotswolds property, above, that houses one of its owners’ beloved collection of dinosaur objects.
Take a tour of this personality-filled home
Take a tour of this personality-filled home
And, rather than filling a large blank wall in his living room with statement art, Tom Chalet, the owner of this eccentrically decorated one-bedroom east London flat, created a Barbie doll collage. Because, why not? Other decorative accessories include the giant teacup in the foreground, lots of Lego, a smattering of taxidermy and the odd train station sign. Being a collector is something that many eccentric homeowners have in common.
“To me,” Chalet says, “decoration needs to be personal. I have memories attached to all of the ornaments you see here.”
See the rest of this flat
“To me,” Chalet says, “decoration needs to be personal. I have memories attached to all of the ornaments you see here.”
See the rest of this flat
Also seen on Houzz is this Mona Lisa as Marge Simpson print, hung irreverently over a beautiful period fireplace. The interior design is the work of Lisa Mettis from London-based Born & Bred Studio. “A humorous work of art can really take the edge off a room,” Mettis says.
“In London, especially, we have a unique buzz about us,” she says. “I think our style is often eccentric: It doesn’t take itself too seriously, there’s lots of personality and mixing up of eras and styles, and we don’t have perhaps such a big emphasis on high-end designs. Or at least we often like to mix them in with other styles, found objects and humor.”
“In London, especially, we have a unique buzz about us,” she says. “I think our style is often eccentric: It doesn’t take itself too seriously, there’s lots of personality and mixing up of eras and styles, and we don’t have perhaps such a big emphasis on high-end designs. Or at least we often like to mix them in with other styles, found objects and humor.”
Stylist Sarah Bagner, aka Supermarket Sarah, pictured in her rented flat, can relate. Bagner’s 2012 book, Wonder Walls: A Guide to Displaying Your Stuff (Cico Books), explores homes around the world with inventive ways of displaying unusual treasures. Her home exhibits classic British eccentric touches.
“I guess there is something about English eccentrics that is quite anti-design,” Bagner says. “Being British but with Swedish parents, I think I can definitely feel the difference between Swedes and the English, and think I fit somewhere between the two. Of course, I appreciate design, and this is my background, but I love the freedom that England, particularly London, gives you in terms of being who you want to be. I think the English are particularly good at not caring what other people think!”
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“I guess there is something about English eccentrics that is quite anti-design,” Bagner says. “Being British but with Swedish parents, I think I can definitely feel the difference between Swedes and the English, and think I fit somewhere between the two. Of course, I appreciate design, and this is my background, but I love the freedom that England, particularly London, gives you in terms of being who you want to be. I think the English are particularly good at not caring what other people think!”
More
8 Clues You’re a Creative Type
Secrets of a Quintessential English Home
While an eccentric interior could take multiple forms, this room illustrates a few trademark touches, such as an irreverent eclecticism, a boldness with color and a sense of humor. (That cow is wearing a hat.)