WELCOME to the third feature of our history series called, 'Ealing REWIND'.

As part of 'Ealing REWIND', we will look back at famous buildings and locations throughout Ealing, talk about their history and how they've evolved over the years.

Today we will look at the history of one of Ealing's most beautiful sites, Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery.

Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery in Walpole Park is a Grade 1 listed building, and its history dates all the way back to the 17th century, when a large house stood on the current site.

In 1768, George Dance was commissioned to build an extension to the house, on which a young architect by the name of John Soane had one of his first architectural apprenticeships.

By 1800, Soane had become one of Britain's most influential architects and he bought the house that year for £4,500.

He proceeded to remove much of the original building and built his Manor over the course of the next four years.

Back then Ealing was a village outside the City of London, so Soane would treat Pitzhanger as his country home, often walking from his 'city home' in Holborn.

He would use Pitzhanger to invite some of the most influential people at the time to dine with him and used the house to show his clients what he could do for them.

Only six years after his Manor was completed, the architect sold Pitzhanger in 1810 and moved his library and art and antiquities collection to his home in central London.

The house stayed in private hands until the turn of the 20th century, when in 1900 it was sold to Ealing District Council.

It was open as Ealing's public library, with a new building which is now Pitzhanger Gallery, built on the site of Soane's kitchen block in 1939.

Award-winning historian, Bettany Hughes, spent many hours as a child at the library, even learning how to read.

Pitzhanger Manor House and Gallery opened as a heritage attraction in 1987 and showed contemporary art exhibitions from 1996.

It closed in 2015 for a major conservation project to restore the Manor to Soane's original designs and also update the contemporary Gallery.

It was reopened in 2019 following a £12 million restoration project, as part of an initiative by Ealing Council.

For the first time in its history, every part of the Manor was now open to the public, prior to having to close at the onset of the first national lockdown last March.

Events Manager, Beth Stansfield, who started working at Pitzhanger during the lockdown told Nub News: "Having started as Events Manager during a lockdown, I really didn't know what to expect – but it's been extraordinary to be able to get to know this unique building so intimately during this time with the photography and film shoots we've been able to continue.

"However, the Manor has a wonderful history of being filled with people and entertainment, so I am excited for the time when we can welcome back visitors and reanimate it with parties and weddings once again."

Pitzhanger also runs a volunteer programme and is always looking for more people who are interested in joining.

One of those volunteers is Paul Mooney, who told Nub News: "I've been a volunteer at Pitzhanger since it was reopened in 2019 and have enjoyed every minute connecting with my community.

"I've made new friends and learned a lot about local history, as well as the history of the Manor which I've been able to share with visitors.

"Pitzhanger Manor is a jewel in the crown and a showcase for Ealing and I am proud to be part of the team."

Fellow volunteer, Chandni Rakhra, added: "Volunteering at Pitzhanger allows you to imprint yourself on history.

"If you have any architectural curiosity, you would be in awe to physically see how natural light enters the hallway mimicking a beautiful Mediterranean sun, as Soane intended."

If you're interested in volunteering, email [email protected] to find out more