The previous occupant of Fazakerley’s ‘Tardis’ house has revealed the inspiration behind the house’s unusual décor – and dispelled online rumours about why the house looks the way it does.
Ruth Obrien, 36, lived in the house on Long Lane for several years after moving there in 2018. It was thanks to her mum, Elaine, that the house underwent its eye-catching revamp.
Ruth told the ECHO: “Mum’s the reason the house stands out and people drive and walk past and comment about it. It’s all down to her. Mum has always had uniqueness – every house she’s been in, she’s made her own.”
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As the ECHO ast weekend, the two bedroom terraced home is much bigger than it first appears from the outside. With a grey frontage and ‘lest we forget’ painted alongside poppies in the upstairs windows, the house has captured the imagination of passing drivers and pedestrians.
According to Ruth, her mum has “been through a great deal in life”. In 2003, she lost her eight-year-old son, Stephen, in an accident. The tragedy spurred Elaine on to find a creative outlet, and she used the “massive, gorgeous home” as her canvas.
Ruth, who only moved out of the house last month, said she already misses it “terribly”. She said: “It was our home. I’ve had a happy life there. People used to look in and stop by – it made their day to look at it.”
Ruth admits that not everyone is a fan of the house, though. “There have been complaints, as well as compliments,” she said. The family has been taken aback by the level of interest shown in the house since the ECHO’s article was published.
Ruth said: “I’ve had over 50 messages today about it.” Amidst all the attention, some rumours began circulating which she wanted to dispel.
She said:” People were saying that a man who died in the war lived there and the poppy display had been placed on the front of the house as a tribute. That’s just not true.”
She says the poppy stickers are in the window as a simple tribute to the army “and what they’ve done for this country”. Now, Ruth has taken inspiration from her mum when decorating her new flat in Walton.
She said: “My new home is just as unique – it’s all in different colours, just how I like it.” The Long Lane property is set to go up for auction on March 27 with Venmore Auctions, with a guide price of £65,000.
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Robert Johnson is a UK-based business writer specializing in finance and entrepreneurship. With an eye for market trends and a keen interest in the corporate world, he offers readers valuable insights into business developments.
