We are open 10am–5pm from Good Friday (29 March) to Easter Monday (1 April). Enjoy the manor and gallery this Easter bank holiday weekend. Book your visit.
In March 2019, Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery reopened to the public for the first time in over three years.
Revealing Pitzhanger
In March 2015, Pitzhanger closed to the public to undertake a major project, aiming to return Sir John Soane’s Manor to its original design.
The project, led by Ealing Council in collaboration with Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery Trust, peeled back layers of history, extensions and overpainting, returning Pitzhanger to Soane’s original design, now visible for the first time in over 175 years. The Regency Manor, built between 1800 and 1804, is a rare and spectacular example of a building designed, built and lived in by Sir John Soane himself. With its stripped classical detail, canopy domed ceilings, radical decorative paint schemes and inventive use of space and light, Pitzhanger features many architectural elements that Soane adapted for his later buildings including Dulwich Picture Gallery and his city home in Lincoln’s Inn Fields.
Important structural elements of Soane’s design were reinstated, such as the conservatory demolished in 1901 and the dramatic central roof light which returns Pitzhanger to the silhouette Soane intended.
The recreation of a colonnade connecting the Gallery and Manor provides full accessibility for all visitors. Soane’s original intricate paint schemes, which were overpainted in the 1830s, have also been meticulously recreated throughout the Manor following detailed historic paint analysis by interior decoration specialists Hare & Humphreys. The dramatic marbling in the entrance hall and the hand-painted Chinese wallpaper in the Upper Drawing Room have revitalised Pitzhanger’s interiors.
The conservation and restoration project was led by architects Jestico + Whiles with the support of heritage experts Julian Harrap Architects. They were supported by a large team of specialist contractors, led by Quinn London Ltd. Craftspeople from across the UK lent their skills to reinstating Soane’s intricate and idiosyncratic designs, from stone carving to Chinese wallpaper, landscaping to glass.
✨ Uncover the allure of Pitzhanger Manor`s Upper Drawing Room, an 18th century gem reborn through meticulous conservation! 🏛 Alongside the Chinoiserie decoration 🌿🦜, discover the intricately detailed ceiling. Originally designed by Soane’s mentor and architect, George Dance, Soane then adjusted the ceiling’s colours to his personal preference. Thanks to conservational efforts, this beautiful room has been recreated for us to enjoy today. 🔍
Fun fact! Paint analysis 🎨 during the conservation work revealed the red in the ceiling’s central rose was realgar, a highly toxic arsenic compound. 🫣 Luckily today, conservators have achieved the same effect without this toxicity.😮💨
Visit Pitzhanger and discover more conservational secrets. A house not short of surprises, it’s sure to capture your imagination! ✨
Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery 📍 Ealing Green, London W5 5EQ 🚇 Ealing Broadway Station (Elizabeth, Central, District, National Rail) 🎫 Access with General Admission
👀🏰🌳 If you`re fascinated by historical buildings, visiting Pitzhanger Manor is an absolute must! This stunning estate perfectly showcases the brilliant mind of Sir John Soane, who believed that architecture should be a theatrical experience. 🎭🎨 Take a tour of the house and gardens to experience Soane`s life story and admire his design skills, displayed through unique paint schemes and dramatic lighting effects. 🤩💡 Visit our website to learn more about our recent conservation project at this incredible site! 🌟
Pitzhanger Manor and Gallery 📅 Open Wednesday to Sunday 📍 Ealing Green, London W5 5EQ 🚇 Ealing Broadway Station (Elizabeth, Central, District, National Rail) 🎫 FREE every Thursday 5pm–8pm
Sir John Soane`s favourite motif was a distinctive domed canopy lid, which he repeatedly used in different materials and at different scales. The Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery gateway, which dates back to Soane`s time, was built using red brick and flint to create a rustic or `primitive` effect. The twinned pilasters of the gateway are capped with this distinctive lid.
Interestingly, Sir Giles Gilbert Scott also borrowed this design feature when he designed the iconic red telephone box in the 1920s. If you visit Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery, you can spot how many domed canopies were used in different parts of the house. Don`t miss this chance to explore and discover more about Soane`s iconic design touches!
Pitzhanger Manor and Gallery 📅 Open Wednesday to Sunday 📍 Ealing Green, W5 5EQ 🚇 Ealing Broadway Station (Elizabeth, Central, District, National Rail)