Restoring the landscape of an historic London landmark

Situated in the heart of West London, the London Borough of Ealing is the proud custodian of one of the capital’s most historically significant green spaces — Walpole Park. This expansive and elegant park forms part of the estate grounds of Pitzhanger Manor, a striking neoclassical villa located on the park’s northeast boundary. The estate’s origins date back to the 17th century, but it gained prominence in the early 1800s when it was purchased and remodelled by the renowned British architect Sir John Soane, who envisioned the house and its surrounding landscape as a unified architectural expression.

In the decades that followed, ownership of the estate changed hands, passing to the Perceval Walpole family during the 19th century. Eventually, the property was acquired by Ealing Urban District Council, marking a pivotal moment in the site’s transition from private estate to public amenity. Pitzhanger Manor was repurposed as a public library, and in 1901, the surrounding grounds were formally opened as a municipal park, creating a much-loved space for recreation and relaxation in the growing borough.

Delivering excellence without disruption to an open public venue

The successful delivery of the Walpole Park restoration required meticulous coordination, careful phasing, and a flexible approach. This balanced construction activity with the need to keep the site accessible to the public. Gavin Jones Ltd approached this challenge with a detailed implementation strategy that allowed key areas of the park to remain open throughout the project. With scheduled weddings at Pitzhanger Manor and a month-long arts and music festival already in the calendar, the team worked closely with Ealing Council to sequence the works in a way that respected the site’s role as a live community space.

When assessing the landscape restoration, Gavin Jones’s Contracts Manager for Walpole stated:

“Each phase was carefully isolated and secured, allowing construction activity to proceed safely while ensuring that visitors could still enjoy uninterrupted access to certain areas of the park. Transparent and consistent communication with the council. The architects and other key stakeholders helped ensure that any issues were addressed swiftly and collaboratively. Restoration works were particularly sensitive, involving listed features such as the Soane Bridge and ornamental stone benches. These required close collaboration with conservation specialists and skilled tradespeople, with traditional materials and techniques used to ensure historical accuracy and structural integrity.

“Environmental protection measures were embedded throughout the process. We implemented safeguards to protect existing trees and wildlife habitats. As well as choosing low-impact equipment to minimise noise and disturbance near sensitive zones. Materials were procured through an agreed sample and approval process with the client and landscape architect, J&L Gibbons, ensuring that every element matched the original design vision and heritage character of the space.”

Partnering with the community and local students

Beyond the physical build, the project had a strong community focus. Students from Capel Manor College were invited to gain hands-on work experience with us, while local volunteers were given supervised access to assist with planting and soft landscaping tasks. This created a sense of local ownership and gave members of the public the opportunity to play a part in the regeneration of their community space. Monthly site tours were also organised throughout the duration of the project, offering insights into the restoration process for local residents, college groups and professional visitors, and helping to build interest and support for the works taking place.

Despite the complexities involved, the project was delivered on time. With all challenges navigated through proactive planning, open communication and an unwavering commitment to quality.