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Photos offer glimpse inside Derek Jarman's home

Gilbert McCarragher Prospect Cottage in DungenessGilbert McCarragher
The garden at Prospect Cottage is much-visited, but few have seen inside.

A new book offers a rare glimpse inside filmmaker and artist Derek Jarman's former Dungeness home.

Jarman, who also directed music videos for the Pet Shop Boys and the Sex Pistols, moved to Prospect Cottage in 1986 after being diagnosed as HIV positive.

He died aged 52 in 1994 from AIDS-related complications.

Though the house, which is now preserved by national charity Art Fund, frequently attracts fans to the Kent headland, few have seen inside.

Gilbert McCarragher A room at Derek Jarman's home Gilbert McCarragher
The filmmaker, artist and LGBT rights activist spent the last years of his life in the cottage

The book, Prospect Cottage: Derek's Jarman's House by photographer Gilbert McCarragher, comes 30 years after the artist's death.

His house originally passed onto his partner, Keith Collins, who changed little but added curtains to stop visitors to the garden peering in.

Gilbert McCarragher An artist's bench inside Prospect CottageGilbert McCarragher
The house and its setting massively influenced Jarman's later style and inspired his cult films like The Last of England

Mr Collins passed away in 2018, after which friend and neighbour Mr McCarragher was asked to record Mr Jarman's former home.

It had been at risk of being sold privately until campaigners launched a campaign to raise £3.5m in 2020.

Gilbert McCarragher A clap board for Jarman's The TempestGilbert McCarragher
Gilbert McCarragher has shot for Alexander McQueen and Christopher Kane

Art Fund now hosts a residency programme for creatives at the building.

The 160 photos in the book are accompanied by reflective essays.

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