Walpole Park

Walpole Park is a municipal urban public open space run by Ealing Borough Council, and its main entrance is situated in Mattock Lane, Ealing, West London.

In 1987-10-01 it was registered by English Heritage on the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England. [English Heritage (2004-03-23). [http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/upload/pdf/register_urban_publicparks.pdf Register of parks and gardens of special historic interest in England] . Urban Public Parks Reg. number 1843. Accessed 2008-04-22.] It is some 28 acres in size. Within its boundaries are the Pitzhanger Manor museum & art gallery and Perceval Lodge. These buildings and part of the boundary wall are also statutory protected structures of Grade I and Grade II respectively.Ealing’s New Plan for the Environment, volume 2, Chapter 10.9 [http://www.ealing.gov.uk/ealing3/export/sites/ealingweb/services/environment/planning/planning_policy/new_plan_for_the_environment/_volume2/chapter10schedule1009.pdf Statutory Listed Buildings and Ancient Monuments] . The statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest prepared by the Department of the Environment. Accessed 2008-04-19]

There are also two ponds and a fountain, both of which attract water fowl.

The land for the park and Pitizhanger Manor itself, was acquired by the council in 1899 from Sir Spencer Walpole, which in turn had been bought by his father the Rt. Hon. Spencer Horatio Walpole. The sum paid was £40,000. It was opened to the public for the first time on 1st May 1901. [cite book
last = Neaves
first = Cyrill
title = A history of Greater Ealing
publisher = S. R. Publishers
date = 1971
location = United Kingdom
pages = p 65, 66
id = ISBN 0-85409-679-5 ]

History

The original house which stood here, and its grounds which make up the present park, was once the property of John Soane the architect, who bought it in 1800. After several more changes of ownership it was purchased by the Urban District Council of Ealing in 1900. The Borough surveyor Charles Jones who negotiated the terms of the sale with his close friend Sir Walpole also went on to set out the design of tree lined avenues, paths and flower beds. [cite book
last = M^cEwan
first = Kate
title = Ealing Walkabout: Journeys into the history of a London borough.
publisher =Nick Wheatly Associates
date = 1983
location = Cheshire, UK.
pages = p 45
isbn = 0 9508895 0 4 ] The outer path is nearly a mile in circumference. The sides of the pond nearest Pitzhanger Manor was planted with plants and shrubs. At the end of the 1980s some restoration work was done to recreate some of the original layout by Soane, which he had done with the help of John Haverfield.

General description

Most of the park consists of open flat grassed areas boarded with tree lined avenues which act as wind brakes. Of the two ponds, the western most is the larger of the two and is more formal. It also feature a fountain. The pond nearest to Pitzhanger Manor on the eastward side of the park has sunken sides, these have been planted with a mixture of ornamental shrubs and bushes. The pond itself has been made to look as though it is a small gently flowing brook. A contemporary drawing of the manor house in the museum suggests that, at the time of Soane, this pond was much deeper. It was from its sides, that John Soane and his friend William Turner (the artist) would sit and fish. As the grounds to the west were pastoral it is quite possible that this pond was constructed as a Ha-ha against cattle and sheep. The bridge a the north end as did the pond was in existence before Soane bought the property but he had it decorated to give it an appearance of great antiquity, no doubt to match his faux Roman ruins which he built just to the north of his house. It is a listed Grade II* structure.

Along the north perimeter wall, is a large stone bench. This also has a statutory protection of Grade II listing.

Perceval Lodge, which has already been mentioned, is used as an arts and crafts centre.

Events

Each year in the summer months the park is an "al fresco" venue to the:
* Ealing Beer Festival (1st week July) [West Middlesex CAMRA. [http://www.ealingbeerfestival.org.uk/ Ealing Beer Festival] . Accessed 2008-05-13]
* Ealing Comedy Festival, Ealing Council. [http://www.ealing.gov.uk/services/leisure/ealing_summer/ Ealing Summer] . Accessed 2008-04-22]
* Ealing Opera in the Park,
* Ealing Blues Festival,
* Ealing Global Festival,
* Ealing Jazz Festival.

Getting here

By Rail: Nearest National Rail station is Ealing Broadway, which is also connected by both the District Line and the District Line of London Underground. South Ealing tube station is the closest on the Piccadilly Line.

Buy bus: No. 65 to Ealing Green; or 83, 112, 207, 297, 427, 607, E1, E2, E7, E8, E9, E10, E11 to Ealing Broadway, then stroll 3 minutes south-west.

By Car: Nearest car parks are at the Ealing Broadway Centre, (access via the Grove, from Ealing Green) or at Springbridge Road, (access via the New Broadway).

Entrance is free to both the House, Gallery and Park.

References

*Leary, Emmeline. "Pitshanger Manor: An Introduction." New ed. [Ealing, London] : Ealing Community Services, [1990] .Pages 18—27. ISBN 0-86192-090-2. The booklet now (early 2008) sold in the Manor as a guide and souvenir. Although the publication is not dated, the short introduction is dated January 1990 and is clearly written for publication.

External links