The architect John Soane purchased Pitzhanger Manor from his own mentor George Dance the Younger as a country house for his family. He bashed down most of it and built a new one more to his liking. It’s a wonderful building which I love visiting. It has recently closed for major Lottery Grant refurbishment and will remain so until 2018. Except for tomorrow, when it will open to the public for the last time and when we will be allowed to access areas where we’re not normally allowed. So don’t miss the opportunity.
Soane was known to enjoy walking from his town house in Lincoln’s Inn Fields (today’s Sir John Soane Museum) to Pitzhanger, some 8 miles, I reckon. Tomorrow I plan to re-enact that, starting at about 10am. If you fancy joining me, please send me an email asap. We’ll stop at the Churchill Arms in Kensington Church Street and go to the Red Lion, Ealing afterwards.
Mike Paterson
Reblogged this on First Night History.
Thanks for this post! We’ve spent a lot of time in the adjacent park and have watched the metamorphosis with great interest. Good luck on the walk and hope you’ll blog about the last public tour till 2018.
I studied Soane when I was an Art History student with the OU loved all his buildings
I visited this house myself a couple of years ago and wrote my own post. I wasn’t aware that the house was closing until 2018 so thank you for the update. I look forward to visiting when it reopens hopefully with much improved interiors. http://visitinghousesandgardens.com/2014/01/14/the-distinguishable-sir-john-soane-pitzhanger-manor-ealing-london/