Walpole Park
Where is it?
Walpole Park is located at the edge of Ealing Broadway behind Pitzhanger Manor House. The main roads surrounding the parks are Culmington Road, Mattock Lane, Ealing Green Street, Windermere Road, Lammas Park Gardens, and Disraeli Road.
Please see Pitzhanger Manor House & Gallery's website for further details about Walpole Park.
Getting there
- bus: many buses converge in Ealing town centre from all directions. Major routes include 65 from the south (Richmond), 207, 427, 607 east-west routes (from Shepherd’s Bush towards Uxbridge), 83 from the north (Golders Green)
- tube: Ealing Broadway (Central and District lines), Northfields and South Ealing tube stations (Piccadilly Line)
- train: Ealing Broadway - overland train routes from Paddington to Reading
- parking: no dedicated car parking but there is meter parking on Mattock Lane next to the park and non-resident parking on Culmington Road (controlled parking zone restrictions apply)
Facilities
- Pitzhanger Manor House and Gallery
- café
- playground
- 2 ponds
- an adult fitness area will be completed in the near future
About the park
Walpole Park is a key recreational area in the borough, and hosts the Ealing Summer Festival. It offers green space for relaxation, recreation, and outdoor lunches.
The council is restoring the park to its Regency-era beauty with funding from the Heritage Lottery
Brief history of site
The park was once part of the estate grounds of a house now known as Pitzhanger Manor, which stands on the northeast side of the park.
In 1800, Pitzhanger Manor-house, and about 28 acres of land was sold to the famed architect John Soane (1753-1837) for the sum of £4,500. Sir John Soane, architect of the Dulwich Picture Gallery and the Bank of England, redesigned Pitzhanger Manor as his ‘country’ residence.
The immediate setting of the house remained largely rural until the mid 19th century with both the Rocque Map of 1746 and the later map of Ealing of 1828 showing the house set amongst a series of detached villas lining Ealing Green but with comparatively little other development elsewhere.
The existing cedar trees on the west lawn date back to the 18th century. Half way across the park a long rectangular fishpond was constructed, corresponding with an old field boundary and it may therefore have been from an earlier drainage ditch. The grounds were opened as a municipal park in May 1901.
Wildlife value
Walpole Park, being a formal park largely consisting of mown grass and large trees, is not of major significance for wildlife. The park’s boundary is, however, well edged with a diversity of plants, offering habitat opportunities for bird and mammal species.
Local contacts
Walpole Friends is a group which has been set up to take an active part in arranging events and activities. The group needs people who are willing to contribute their time and effort. If you would like to get involved please email: chair@walpolefriends.org