Walpole Park

Pond in sunken garden

Walpole Park is a municipal urban public open space run by Ealing Borough Council, and its main entrance is situated in Mattock Lane, Ealing, West London.

In 1987-10-01 it was registered by English Heritage on the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England. It is some 28 acres (110,000 m²) in size. Within its boundaries are the Pitzhanger Manor museum & art gallery and Perceval Lodge. These buildings and part of the boundary wall are also statutory protected structures of Grade I and Grade II respectively.

There is also a late Victorian ornamental lake bordering the House's rear lawn and further west a pond which has a pair of fountains, both of which attract water fowl.

The land for the park and Pitzhanger Manor itself, was acquired by the council in 1899 from Sir Spencer Walpole, which in turn had been bought by his father the Rt. Hon. Spencer Horatio Walpole. The sum paid was £40,000. It was opened to the public for the first time on 1 May 1901.

History

Pitzhanger Museum & Gallery looking south west

The original house which stood here, and its grounds which make up the present park, was once the property of John Soane the architect, who bought it in 1800. After several more changes of ownership it was purchased by the Urban District Council of Ealing in 1900. The Borough surveyor Charles Jones who negotiated the terms of the sale with his close friend Sir Walpole also went on to set out the design of tree lined avenues, paths and flower beds. The outer path is nearly a mile in circumference. The sides of the pond nearest Pitzhanger Manor was planted with plants and shrubs.

Soane's house then became the borough's central public lending library. The library vacated the site in 1984. Work then began on researching the building to discover the original décor and renovating it back to how it had been in Soane's day. A library extension that had been built on the north-side was converted into the present day art gallery.

At the end of the 1980s some restoration work was done to recreate some of the original layout by Soane of the garden, which he had done with the help of John Haverfield.

Ealing Council is currently (September 2013 onwards) renovating the park. The ornamental lake described above (shown in the photo) and the pond further away from Pitzhanger Manor have both been removed and the whole area of the park adjoining Mattock Lane has been fenced off to the public. At present there are no wildfowl in the park, many smaller trees have been cut down and many plants removed. The intention is to re-design the Victorian park and "restore Regency views". There is restricted access to the park from the Ealing Broadway end, although access to the rest of the park is still possible. The newly renovated park with new ponds should be open in the spring or summer of 2014.

General description

local resident of pond

Ornamental bridge by Soane

Most of the park consists of open flat grassed areas bordered by tree lined avenues, which act as wind breaks. Of the two ponds, the western most was the larger of the two and was more formal. It also featured a fountain. The pond nearest to Pitzhanger Manor on the eastward side of the park had sunken sides, which were planted with a mixture of ornamental shrubs and bushes. The pond itself was made to look as though it was a small gently flowing brook. A contemporary drawing of the manor house in the museum suggests that, at the time of Soane, this pond was much deeper. It was from its sides that John Soane and his friend William Turner (the artist) would sit and fish. As the grounds to the west were pastoral it is quite possible that this pond was constructed as a Ha-ha against cattle and sheep. The bridge at the north end, and the pond, were in existence before Soane bought the property but he had it decorated to give an appearance of great antiquity, no doubt to match his faux Roman ruins which he built just to the north of his house. It is a listed Grade II* structure.

Along the north perimeter wall is a large stone bench. This also has a statutory protection of Grade II listing.

Perceval Lodge, which has already been mentioned, is used as an arts and crafts centre.

Events

At the 23rd annual Ealing Jazz Festival (July 2007)

The first pint gets served at 19th Ealing Beer Festival

Each year in the summer months the park is an al fresco venue to the:

• Ealing Beer Festival (4 to 7 July)
• Ealing Comedy Festival,
• Ealing Opera in the Park,
• Ealing Blues Festival,
• Ealing Global Festival,
• Ealing Jazz Festival.

Getting here

Painting of the garden (1905)

By Rail: Nearest National Rail station is Ealing Broadway, which is also connected by both the Central Line and the District Line of London Underground. South Ealing tube station is the closest on the Piccadilly Line.

By bus: No. 65 to Ealing Green; or 83, 112, 207, 297, 427, 607, E1, E2, E7, E8, E9, E10, E11 to Ealing Broadway, then stroll 3 minutes south-west.

By Car: Nearest car parks are at the Ealing Broadway Centre, (access via the Grove, from Ealing Green) or at Springbridge Road, (access via the New Broadway).

Entrance is free to both the House, Gallery and Park.

Please note that access is restricted from the Mattock Lane end while renovation is taking place (autumn 2013-spring 2014).

References

• Leary, Emmeline. Pitshanger Manor: An Introduction. New ed. [Ealing, London]: Ealing Community Services, [1990].Pages 18–27. ISBN 0-86192-090-2. The booklet now (early 2008) sold in the Manor as a guide and souvenir. Although the publication is not dated, the short introduction is dated January 1990 and is clearly written for publication.