Walpole Park Updates: Save this Historic Site from Ruin

Walpole Park is facing its most significant challenge in the 125 years since it became a public park for use by the people of Ealing. In 2009 Ealing Council bid, with the help of volunteers, for Parks for People Heritage Lottery Funding - this was to restore the Georgian landscape in keeping with Sir John Soane's architectural masterpiece Pitzhanger Manor and to bring the very municipal park up to scratch - the work was completed in 2014. In the same year, Pitzhanger Manor and Gallery received funding to restore it to its former glory, with the Trustees raising in total £12m. The work was completed in 2019 with Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery opening with an extraordinary exhibition by Anish Kapoor.

Today Ealing Council are planning on virtually dividing this Green Flag Park in two by leasing a huge swathe of it to Troubadour Theatres who plan to install a 1200 seater theatre tent with catering and bar facilities. This much needed green lung in the heart of Ealing's Town Centre and close by the very polluted Uxbridge Road will now have pollution of its own to cope with, huge generators, late night noise and light pollution and potential damage to the Grade 1 listed Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery, the restored Grade 11 Parkland, Soanian Arch, Bridge, Bench and historic wall, and the monument to Victorian Borough Architect Charles Jones.

The Historical Significance of Walpole Park & Pitzhanger Manor

Walpole Park & Pitzhanger Manor has a rich history that dates back to the 18th century. The Heritage Lottery fund at the time of its Award described it as 'One of London’s architectural treasures'.

Pitzhanger Manor House, the personal ‘dream home’ created in the early years of the 19th century by one of Britain’s greatest architects, Sir John Soane, underwent a major overhaul at a cost of £12m which was as a result of an HLF Grant Award, Ealing Council's matched funding and the balance of nearly £4m raised by the Trustees.

The project, led by Ealing Council in partnership with Pitzhanger Manor Trust, included completely restoring the building, upgrading the 1939 art gallery extension and creating a new venue in the walled garden, as well as improving visitor facilities and accessibility. The design team led by architects Jestico + Whiles, including conservation architects Julian Harrap Architects LLP and landscape architects J&L Gibbons, transformed Pitzhanger Manor House and reinstated the rich heritage of Soane’s designs within their original Regency landscape setting - Walpole Park.

Pitzhanger Manor is an internationally significant part of London’s architectural heritage, and is indeed a world class heritage site. The restoration of the gallery for major exhibitions was important and the Manor and Gallery opened in 2019 with an exhibition by world renowned artist Anish Kapoor. This autumn it will be showcasing a blockbuster exhibition opening in November showcasing : Peter Blake: In the Studio a major celebration of the life and work of Sir Peter Blake one of the defining figures of British Pop Art .

Pitzhanger Manor and Walpole Park present a magnificent revelation of Soane’s original vision for his weekend home, a rare, surviving Regency villa and gardens, uniquely positioned in the now urbanised setting of Ealing Town Centre. And today Pitzhanger Manor and Walpole Park are again seen as Soane intended, restoring the visual power of the building and enabling all visitors to appreciate it in full. The Manor and gallery re-integrated with the adjoining Walpole Park, originally the grounds of Soane’s home, in which he used to stroll and go fishing with his friend, the artist J.M.W. Turner.

The project included restoring the historic landscape and built new facilities in the park , providing a complementary setting for the rejuvenated house and gallery.

The Park restoration alone at a cost of c. £5.2m included:

• restoration of the historic landscape and parkland;

• Regency planting;

• restoration of the walled kitchen garden;

• restoration of historic park features;

• the Rickyard education/community facility;

• improved paths and visitor facilities;

• restoration of the relationship between Pitzhanger and its landscape.

Challenges in Preservation

Opportunities or Threats?

The Council claim that the ingress of potentially half a million people a year into the centre of Ealing will uplift the high street. This is debatable given the fact the venue is planning to provide its own catering and drinks facilities on site, and as there will be primarily evening performances there will be little or no opportunity for local commerce.

Damage to the historic setting of Pitzhanger

This is potentially the most important heritage issue - the theatre would not be adjacent to an unrelated park. It would occupy part of the historic landscape that was deliberately restored as the setting for Pitzhanger a Grade I listed Soane building.

A 1,200-person venue would introduce a large, visually prominent structure, together with people, lighting, signage, fencing, servicing equipment and associated infrastructure, into a landscape whose historic character has deliberately been restored at a large cost c. £17.5m for Manor and Park, both within the last 12 years.

Historic England's description of the park specifically identifies its significance as deriving from its relationship with Pitzhanger and Soane's historic landscape.

Loss of the park's visual openness

One of the qualities that makes the setting work is the openness of the lawns and the ability to perceive the Manor within its landscape.

A large theatre necessarily creates a substantial visual obstruction.

The issue isn't only the footprint of the building. It is the visual envelope around it:

• the theatre itself;

• entrances and exits;

• fencing and barriers;

• queues;

• advertising/signage;

• external lighting;

• catering facilities;

• toilets;

• delivery/service areas;

• waste storage;

• security infrastructure;

• crowd-control measures.

  
  

Although the theatre is described as temporary, a 3½-year occupation is a substantial period in the life of a public park, and the theatre would need an area considerably larger than the area occupied by the audience seating alone.

There will be be circulation, entrances, emergency exits, queuing areas, backstage/service areas, catering and other ancillary facilities.

'Temporary' does not mean 'impact-free'

Lets not forget that there will be a construction/installation period and eventually dismantling and reinstatement.

During those periods there may be:

• heavy vehicles;

• cranes and lifting equipment;

• fencing;

• ground protection;

• temporary compounds;

• noise;

• dust;

• lighting;

• damage or compaction to grass;

• potential effects on trees and roots;

• restrictions on park access.

There will potentially be months of disruption beyond the period of theatrical performances;

Trees, ecology and the park landscape

Walpole Park contains mature trees and historic planting.

The Council itself describes the park as containing historic trees and features, while the Heritage Lottery-funded restoration specifically sought to recreate the Regency landscape.

Potential impacts therefore include:

• root-zone compaction;

• damage from vehicles;

• removal or pruning of vegetation;

• altered drainage;

• soil compaction;

• loss of grass;

• lighting impacts on wildlife;

• litter;

• increased human disturbance;

• disturbance during construction and dismantling.

It is vital that Walpole Park remains a vital green space for now and for generations to come. As these efforts continue, so pleas sign up, stay involved and support the initiatives that will ensure the park's legacy endures.