A whole range of types and carriers have configured a small number of rearward facing seats over time. Southwest in the USA used to rig out all their 737s with two or three such layouts in the cabin, they were known as "lounge" seating areas. Although just free seating, like the rest of Southwest, they apparently filled up last, unless there was a large business group or family travelling.
Boeing 737-2H4/Adv - Southwest Airlines | Aviation Photo #0171114 | Airliners.net
The picture shows the rearward seats were different in shape to the regular forward ones, with a higher but sharply tapered seat back. This is just the same as the Britannia seats pictured higher up the thread. I've seen these Brit seats before and have always wondered why they had such a strange shape, and whether people had narrower heads a generation ago ...
The Southwest layout was apparently changed to a standard all-forward arrangement when the 16g seat restraint requirement came in. I wonder what aspect required this.