Pitzhanger Manor facts for kids
Pitzhanger Manor, east façade (before 2019 restoration)
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| Location | Mattock Lane, Ealing, London, W5 5EQ, United Kingdom |
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| Architect | Sir John Soane |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name | Pitzhanger Manor (Public Library) |
| Designated | 24 February 1950 |
| Reference no. | 1358808 |
Pitzhanger Manor is a famous English country house in Ealing, west London. It was once the home of Sir John Soane, a very important architect. He designed and built this house between 1800 and 1804.
Pitzhanger Manor is special because Soane himself lived here. He wanted it to be a place to entertain guests. He also hoped it would be a family home for future architects, like his sons.
Today, Pitzhanger Manor and Gallery is a popular place to visit. It opened as a heritage site in 1987. Later, it started showing modern art exhibitions in 1996.
The manor closed in 2015 for a big restoration project. The goal was to make it look like Soane's original design. The project also updated the art gallery.
On March 16, 2019, Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery reopened. Visitors could see Soane's original vision for the first time in over 175 years.
Contents
Discovering Pitzhanger Manor's Past
Early Days of the Manor
A large house has stood on this spot since the late 1600s. Back then, a smaller Pitzhanger Manor was located about a mile north.
Records from 1664 to 1674 show a man named Richard Slaney paid taxes for 16 hearths. This tells us the house was quite big even then.
In 1711, the Wilmer family lived here. Their daughter Grizell married Johnathan Gurnell. He became a rich merchant and banker. The house later passed to their son, Thomas Gurnell.
In 1768, a young John Soane worked on an extension to the house. He was an apprentice at the time. He would later become a very famous architect.
Sir John Soane's Vision (1800–1810)
By the 1790s, Sir John Soane was a successful architect in London. He was even the architect for the Bank of England. In 1794, he and his family moved to a house in central London. This house also served as his office.
In 1800, Soane wanted a country home outside London. He planned to build a new house. But he saw potential in Pitzhanger, where he had worked as a young apprentice.
On July 21, 1800, Soane visited Pitzhanger. He offered £4,500 for the entire 28-acre estate. His offer was accepted on August 1.
Soane worked hard on designs for the new house. He decided to knock down the older parts of the house. However, he kept the two-story south wing designed by George Dance. Soane admired Dance's elegant work.
Most of Soane's rebuilding was finished by late 1803. The house was fully completed in 1804. It showed many of Soane's unique design ideas.
Pitzhanger Manor featured special ceilings, hidden mirrors, and wooden panels. Soane also added mock Roman ruins and a kitchen area to the east. Many of his art and antique collections, now at the Soane Museum, were first kept here.
Soane sold the house in 1810. His wife was not happy living in the countryside. Also, he had disagreements with his two sons. His dream of Pitzhanger becoming a family home for architects did not come true.
Pitzhanger as a Public Library (1900–1985)
In 1900, the local council bought Pitzhanger Manor. They paid £40,000 for it. Their plan was to turn it into a free public library.
Work on the library started after the last resident, Frederika Perceval, passed away in 1901. The council added a new extension to the house. This new part was designed to blend in with the existing building.
On the north side, the servants' quarters were removed. A new building for the Lending Library was built there. It opened to the public in April 1902.
Later, between 1938 and 1940, the Lending Library building was replaced. This new, slightly larger building is what we now know as Pitzhanger Gallery. The library moved out in 1984.
Pitzhanger as a Museum and Gallery (1987–2012)
After some restoration, the house reopened in January 1987. It became the main museum for the London Borough of Ealing.
In 1996, it started hosting exhibitions of modern art. It became known as PM Gallery & House. The venue also became a popular place for weddings and other events.
By 2008, plans began for another big restoration project. The goal was to bring Pitzhanger even closer to Soane's original design. The manor closed for this major work in March 2015.
Bringing Back Soane's Vision (2012–2019)
In 2012, Ealing Council started a large project to restore Pitzhanger Manor. The project received a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The main aim was to restore the manor to Sir John Soane’s original architectural design. They also wanted to make the building fully accessible for everyone. A new café was built where Soane's kitchen garden used to be. The Gallery was also upgraded to host major art exhibitions.
The restoration involved removing later additions to the house. They rebuilt the conservatory, which Soane had designed but was demolished by 1910. A large roof light was also put back in place.
Expert architects and heritage specialists led the project. They worked with a team of contractors. They also designed a new café and an educational center.
Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery Today (2019 – now)
On March 16, 2019, Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery reopened. The restoration successfully brought back much of Soane's original design. The nearby Gallery was also improved.
Today, the Gallery shows three exhibitions each year. These feature works by modern artists, designers, and architects. They offer new ways to look at Sir John Soane's work.
A new learning center, called The Rickyard, opened in 2015. It hosts events and workshops for Pitzhanger.
An independent charity, the Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery Trust, now runs the site. They helped raise money for the restoration. Since its reopening, the Trust manages Pitzhanger as a public visitor attraction.
Architecture and Design
The Manor's Unique Style (1804)
Pitzhanger Manor shows Sir John Soane's unique architectural style. It is mostly neo-classical in design. This means it takes inspiration from ancient Greek and Roman buildings.
Soane had recently traveled through Italy and Greece. Pitzhanger shows many of these influences. You can see features like meanders (patterns), caryatids (sculpted female figures), and ionic columns. He was inspired by places like the Arch of Constantine in Italy.
Soane also added his own special touches. These included canopy ceilings and clever ways to use light and shadow. He also used mirrors to make spaces seem bigger.
Ealing War Memorial (1919)
After World War I ended in 1918, people wanted to build a memorial. It would honor the men from Ealing who died in the war.
They chose a spot outside Pitzhanger Manor for the memorial. It was designed as a gateway with two walls. The names of the fallen soldiers were carved into these walls. A tree-lined path leads to the memorial.
The architect, Leonard Shuffrey, designed the memorial. His own son, Gilbert, is remembered on it. Later, names of those who died in World War II were added.
Pitzhanger in Culture
Art and Famous Guests
Sir John Soane designed Pitzhanger Manor to entertain many guests. He hosted famous artists and writers of his time.
It is said that a young J.M.W. Turner, a famous painter, visited Pitzhanger. He even fished with Soane in the manor's ponds, which are now part of Walpole Park.
Soane's wife, Eliza, bought William Hogarth's famous paintings, A Rake's Progress, in 1802. These paintings were likely displayed in the manor. They were exhibited again at Pitzhanger in March 2020.
Filming Location
Pitzhanger Manor's historic look makes it a popular place for filming. It is also close to Ealing Studios. It has been featured in several movies and TV shows:
- The Importance of Being Earnest (2002), starring Judi Dench and Colin Firth.
- The Biographer (2000), where Pitzhanger Manor pretended to be Kensington Palace.
- Kavanagh QC (1998), where the Gallery was used as a Crown Court.
- Doctor Who: More Than 30 Years in the TARDIS (1993), a special anniversary program.
Other Buildings by Sir John Soane in London
- Sir John Soane’s Museum, Holborn
- Dulwich Picture Gallery, Dulwich
- Bank of England, City of London
- Holy Trinity Church, Marylebone
- St Peter's Church, Walworth
- St John on Bethnal Green
- The Soane Tomb, St Pancras Old Church Gardens
Images for kids
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The Upper Landing of the historic Manor.
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The Main Hall in the Gallery for contemporary art.
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The Vestibule (above view).
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The Upper Drawing Room wallpaper (detail).
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The Breakfast Room painted interiors (detail).
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