OTHER HERITAGE PROJECTS
The drained Round Pond being restored
Pitzhanger Manor
Following the successful revamp of Walpole Park in Ealing , with a nod to its Regency past , similar work is under way on the building that the park once served as its grounds : Pitzhanger Manor House . Ealing Council is undertaking the project in partnership with Pitzhanger Manor and Gallery Trust , and the restoration of the Grade I listed building will mean it will much more closely resemble the original vision of renowned architect Sir John Soane , who rebuilt it to his liking more than 200 years ago . A replica of his original , 18th Century , covered walkway will also be constructed to take visitors from the house to the gallery – which will itself be refurbished and updated . Visit www . pitzhanger . org . uk or email heritage @ ealing . gov . uk for more information . meanwhile , and residents can pop down to view some of the restoration work that is taking place from behind safety fencing . Funding for the project has come from Ealing and Hounslow councils , the Heritage Lottery Fund , the Big Lottery Fund and Historic England .
Councillor Bell said : “ It was exciting to see how things are coming on and to get a taste of what we can expect when it all fully reopens next year . The parkland and its old structures are being beautifully restored and the museum is of real cultural value to both boroughs . I , for one , am looking forward to welcoming people back .”
WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON ? There is plenty else happening behind the scenes .
Once reopened in late 2017 , the museum will allow visitors to fi nd out more about the area ’ s past , its agricultural roots , industrial heritage and the story of urbanisation . And , in preparation for this , the team there has been working on plans for new displays and exhibitions – and has been running projects involving local people of all ages .
This has included work to digitise the museum ’ s oral history archive and to collect new material from residents , including a couple who held their wedding reception in the dining room of the large mansion in 1954 .
But that is not all . A schools programme has been running sold-out workshops at the site on a diverse range of subjects ; a pop-up museum has been touring locations in the borough ;
Southall Manor House
Big changes are taking place at this landmark building . Turn the page to find out more
and Museum of London Archaeology service ( MOLA ) supervised an archaeological excavation at Gunnersbury on the north lawn outside the mansions . Schools from Ealing and Hounslow got involved with the dig , and families took part in public workshops . Some fi nds dated from as far back as the Tudor period ; the MOLA team is assessing the finds and is due to report back soon .
To keep in touch with progress on the project at Gunnersbury and to hear about forthcoming events visit www . visitgunnersbury . org or follow @ Gunnersbury1 on Twitter or fi nd Gunnersbury Park & Museum on Facebook .
around ealing Winter 2016 / 17 21