Activities

Pitzhanger Manor, in the centre of what was then the village of Ealing, was the country house of Sir John Soane, one of Britain’s most influential architects. He bought Pitzhanger in 1800 in the hope of creating a showcase for his collection and his talents, and a family home for a dynasty of architects, starting with his young sons, John and George. 

A manor house had existed on the site of Pitzhanger since the seventeenth century but, when the house came on the market, Soane bought it and removed much of the original building. Soane built his Manor between 1800 and 1804: it is a laboratory of his most innovative designs, and a showcase of his talents: he would invite some of the most influential people of the day to dine at Pitzhanger, and used the house to show his clients what he could do for them.

Domestic in scale, Pitzhanger was the Soane family’s country home – he had purchased a home in central London at Lincoln’s Inn Fields, now open as the Sir John Soane’s Museum, and would walk between Pitzhanger and Holborn regularly.

The house and gardens are a lasting testimony to Soane’s skill and imagination as an architect, but the dynasty never materialised. In 1810, when his sons proved a disappointment, Soane sold Pitzhanger, and moved his library and collection of art and antiquities to his London home in Lincoln’s Inn Fields.

In addition, we will be able to see various exhibitions whilst we are there: From Waste to Wonder which features artworks crafted from waste clay; A Fine Line, an exhibition of modern ceramics and glass; and the tapestries of Grayson Perry. Sir Grayson Perry is an internationally celebrated chronicler of contemporary life, drawing us into intricately designed works of art with wit and nostalgia. In his work, Perry tackles subjects that are universally human: identity, gender, social status, sexuality and religion.

Pitzhanger still sits in its beautifully landscaped original parkland, which became Walpole Park in 1901. The historic features and landscapes were restored a few years ago to how they had been in Soane’s time

Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery, Ealing Green, London W5 5EQ

Entrance: £13.20 (with Gift Aid, otherwise £12), National Art Pass holders £6.60 (£6). Please buy your ticket online as soon as possible to guarantee entrance.

18 July 2024 at 2.00pm

Coffee and cake in the park afterwards