Up Pompeii star’s home opens to the public

Fans of the British comedian Frankie Howerd will be given a unique insight into his colourful life this weekend when his home is opened to the public for the first time.

Hundreds of props, scripts, paintings and photographs belonging to the late Up Pompeii star are being displayed at Wavering Down, his former cottage, near Cross, in Somerset, England.

Among some of the more unusual items in the suitably eccentric collection are the camp comic’s false teeth, infamous wig and his walking stick, which was modified so he could slip a small bottle of gin into the shaft.

The fascinating archive has been brought together by Chris Byrne, Frankie’s close friend who now manages his estate.

Mr Byrne and Dennis Heymer, the funnyman’s former partner and manager, still live in his country bolt-hole, which has remained virtually unchanged since Howerd died ther in 1992, aged 75.

“People will see the house as it was when Frankie lived here,” Mr Byrne said.

“We have never changed a thing. Frankie never even had a washing machine and the mangle is still there in the kitchen.

“Frankie was a real hoarder. He kept everything from laundry bills to war records, so it’s taken me eight months to get this collection together and I’ve still got so much to sort through.

“It was a difficult decision to open the doors to the public, but so many people were asking me when they could have a look around I thought I should do it in honour to Frankie.

“It’s an insight not just into the public man, but how the private man lived a very normal and peaceful life.”

His home will become a temporary museum when the doors are thrown open to the public this weekend, with all the cash raised from admissions going to charity.

Wavering Down, Howerd’s home since 196, became an unlikely venue for a host of parties with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars during the 1970s.

A pair of swords from the set of the classic film Cleopatra were given to him by Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, who were frequent visitors.

Two stone cats from his close friend Lord Olivier, also stand by the fireplace.

A painting of Elvis given to him by the King himself hangs on the wall, along with a picture the Queen Mother sent to Howerd as a house warming gift.

One of the more bizarre presents he was given was a fossilised egg dating from 79AD from the Italian government in thanks for the hugely successful Up Pompeii TV series.

More secrets from Howerd’s past are revealed in his bedroom, where a pair of his pyjamas still lie folded on the bed.

On a shelf is the talcum powder he used under his wig, along with his false teeth.

The picturesque property’s gardens were opened to the public last summer for cream teas and Mr Byrne said he was confident the comedian would have been happy to know his beloved home would now also be appreciated by a wider audience.

“For years he wanted to do cream teas out on the lawn,” he said.

“I can’t see him carrying the tea pot, but he used to say to Dennis ’When we retire as two old queens this is what we should do’.

“He also wanted to turn his home into a monastery for retired stars, and in a way it is.

“He liked being nosy himself, and seeing how other people lived, so he would approve.”

Wavering Down is opening on Easter Sunday, Easter Monday and two to three times a month until the Autumn.