Comments on: Dennis Severs’ Menagerie

By: Jill

Jill — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 09:05:53 +0000

I will be visiting (again) in a week, I look forward to it very much! Thank you for this article.

Ours to Keep can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUnUcOUHQAU

By: Peter

Peter — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 15:23:27 +0000

Thank you so much from writing about Dennis Severs – I knew of the house and always meant to visit, I came across a short documentary called Ours To Keep, filmed in 1985, and Dennis makes several appearances – hanging the canary cage outside the house, hosting a smoking party complete with a liveryman arriving with a bowl of punch – I’m glad I found out who Dennis was before visiting, I think I’ll appreciate it more knowing about his passion for the house.

By: Rita

Rita — Mon, 12 Feb 2018 14:18:34 +0000

Thank you for this eloquent, interesting article.

I have visited Dennis Sever’s house and found it captivating. It left a lasting impression, sadly I didn’t manage to visit when he was alive although it was my intention. I wish I’d had the privilege to have met him.

By: Annette

Annette — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:51:33 +0000

I’m glad I’m not the only one to have jumped out of my skin in the candlelit corridor just outside the Victorian room, when Madge’s apparently disembodied eyes swam into view. It wasn’t long before I heard a “Miaaaooow” and Mick sighed and said, “She wants her dinner”.

By: M. Stacey Shaffer

M. Stacey Shaffer — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 10:38:05 +0000

I can hear Dennis speaking to me now, in that imperious voice, “You do understand that it’s not commonplace Madge? That it’s short for Majesty?” The first Whitechapel was born in the garden at Buckingham Palace, and in the summer of 1980 she had three kittens: Hackney, Stepney, and Bethnal Green. Tap may not have been her favorite, but she was actually quite a good waltzer, and Dennis insisted that she was purring during their turns about the room.

Dennis had wonderful neighbors at his South Kensington mews, sisters Jane and Cynthia Seabrook. These lovely ladies are in their 80s now, and they reside in Notting Hill. They have wonderful stories about Dennis. I suggest you interview them next.

By: Nota Bene

Nota Bene — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:04:30 +0000

I shall say “hello Madge” next time I visit…she still makes visitors jump, but is really quite friendly given the number of people that tramp through her home

By: the gentle author

the gentle author — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 12:19:42 +0000

In reply to Derek Brown. Thanks Derek, This may explain the origin of the name Madge.

By: Derek Brown

Derek Brown — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 12:05:58 +0000

Before Denis came to Folgate St he lived in a carriage house in a South Kensington mews. When he was evicted by developers he said that he and the horse were given emergency accommodation at the Royal Mews – the Queen having heard of his plight. He told me it was here that he aquired his first cat, called Madge. The cat I remember at 18 Folgate St in the early ’80’s did a fine impersonation of Superman in flight – aided by Denis naturally.

By: Susan

Susan — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 02:31:01 +0000

Another wonderful entry about Dennis Severs’ House. When I finally visit, it is going to take me forever to go through each room because I will want to search for each little detail and nuance. And now I had better add Madge to the list of “must sees.”