DURING the three-year restoration of Pitzhanger Manor an eclectic mix of objects were unearthed which offered an interesting insight into the buildings rich history.

Among the items conserved in the restoration were details of graffiti written by a farsighted builder in 1832, and an old shoe used to ward off bad spirits.

Other objects discovered include, an unassuming toothbrush used for the specialist decorations, a cannonball discovered as a chimney cleaner and a 1900 photograph that became vital evidence in the reconstruction of the conservatory.

Some of these pieces are currently on display at an exhibition called Soane Restored in Pitzhanger's Soane Galleries.

Clare Gough, Director of Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery said: "There were so many joyous things, but the graffiti was my favourite discovery - featuring a few builder's marks on the parapet with a cross chiselled in.

"I love the fact that the builder didn't know it would be discovered.

"And here we are over a hundred and fifty years after he's done it, and after he died, because we found his death certificate.

"But he left a mark and someone has found it."

She added: "As we were doing the restoration a builder said to me, 'you know we will also be doing this', so now I wonder what they have left!

"At the very least they always drop their business card under the floorboards, which is lovely, so one day someone is going to find that instead."

The Soane Restored exhibition also features an old shoe that was found under the floorboards in the attic during the conservation project.

Leaving a shoe under the floorboards of a house was a common Georgian tradition to kick out bad spirits and ward off evil.

Pitzhanger plans to continue the tradition by replacing it with a contemporary child's school shoe, voted on in a competition.

Clare said there was also the suggestion to do something more contemporary and put a 3D printed flip-flop under instead, as a more indicative symbol of the modern era.

The £12 million restoration of the Manor in the centre of Ealing worked to restore the building back to its original vision by architect Sir John Soane, when he remodelled the house in 1800-1804.

Soane Restored is running from 27 May to 5 June 2022.

The Manor and Gallery are open Wednesday to Sunday 10am-5pm with a late opening on Thursday, 10am-7pm.