The King visited Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery, Sir John Soane’s masterpiece in Ealing, on Thursday, 7 December 2023.

Guided by Howell James CBE, Chair of Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery Trust, and Clare Gough, Director of Pitzhanger, His Majesty toured the restored Manor, originally the country home of Sir John Soane, the visionary British architect known for his work on the Bank of England and Dulwich Picture Gallery, among others. Soane designed and built Pitzhanger in 1800 – 1804 and lived here until 1810, using it as a canvas to display his architectural prowess.

The Manor, acquired by Ealing District Council in 1900 and transformed into Ealing’s Public Library, is now a Grade-I listed historic house and contemporary art gallery. Following an award-winning restoration, it opened to the public in 2019, meticulously restored to Soane’s 1800 design. This recent conservation project, undertaken by Ealing Council in collaboration with Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery Trust, peeled back layers of history to reveal Soane’s original vision. Today, Pitzhanger is open to the public and combines Soane’s legacy as a pivotal site for both historic preservation and contemporary art.

During the visit, His Majesty met several key craftspeople whose expertise was pivotal to the Manor’s restoration. Notable among them were decorative painter Alasdair Peebles and the team from Hare & Humphreys, who led the detailed historic paint analysis integral to the conservation project. They showcased some regular paint job repairs in the Manor, highlighting the painstaking work involved in recreating Soane’s original intricate designs including the dramatic marbling in the entrance hall. Also in attendance were stone sculpture specialists Tom Nicholls and Josh Locksmith from London Stone Carving, who discussed their contribution to the restoration of the Manor’s stone carvings.