Sir John Soane’s ‘Party Property’ awarded £4.42m Heritage Lottery Grant
by Katie Buckley | 04 Jun 2014
A visualisation of the Pitzhanger Manor forecourt by Jestico + Whiles. / Forbes Massie
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded a £4.42m (US$7.4m, €5.4m) grant to restore Pitzhanger Manor, West London, to turn it into a tourist attraction.
The former home of architect Sir John Soane, will undergo a major redevelopment in a bid to turn the building into a “world class attraction”. The project, led by Ealing Council, will include a full restoration of the manor, upgrading the 1939 art gallery extension and creating a new café in the walled garden, as well as significantly increasing visitor accessibility.
Jestico + Whiles architects will be leading the build, while conservation specialists Julian Harrap Architects and landscape architects J&L Gibbons will also contribute.
The HLF grant means that for the first time ever, the Grade I Listed building will be completely open to the public, presenting Pitzhanger exactly as Soane intended it. Situated in Walpole Park, the project will see the reintegration of the Regency Villa while plans are also underway to build new facilities in the park providing a complementary setting for the rejuvenated house and gallery. The park is expected to be fully restored by the end of summer 2014.
“Pitzhanger Manor House and Gallery is the crown jewel of Ealing, a true inspiration with fascinating history and architectural significance," said Julian Bell, Leader of Ealing Council.
Sir John Soane purchased the property in 1800 and remodelled it to his own specifications. Used as a weekend retreat, the architect, famous for building such as the Bank of England, used to host dinners and parties for the elite at the time, including the likes of J.W.M Turner.
Soane intended the property to be a showcase for his architectural talent and impressive collections, enabling visitors to appreciate the quality of both. The project is still seeking £2m in funding to complete the £11m project, with the aim of accomplishing Soane’s original ambition, to share great art and architecture with the masses.
Pitzhanger Manor Trust chair, Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, added that when the “space re-opens in 2018 we will be delivering not only a local but a world class attraction that will take its rightful place in England’s cultural heritage.”
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded a £4.42m (US$7.4m, €5.4m) grant to restore Pitzhanger Manor, West London, to turn it into a tourist attraction. The former home of architect Sir John Soane, will undergo a major redevelopment in a bid to turn the building into a “world class attraction”. The project, led by Ealing Council, will include a full restoration of the manor, upgrading the 1939 art gallery extension
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