The country house of Sir John Soane, Pitzhanger Manor has recently reopened after an extensive restoration by Julian Harrap architects and Jestico + Whiles so I leapt at the offer to visit.
Originally built by Soane’s former boss, George Dance, the house was in the country yet only 8 miles from London so within walking distance of Soane’s home and office in Lincoln’s Inn Fields. You still get the feel of being in a village when looking out of the window.
Soane remodelled the original Regency house, leaving only the splendid upper drawing room (first picture) and lower dining room with their ornate plaster ceilings intact.
Looking back into the entrance you can see Soane’s trademark classical references.
then look up to see the light flooding in from stained glass windows on the upper landing
The fully rebuilt conservatory (from the original plans) looks out onto extensive grounds which feel more like a park than a garden.
All walls were painted in different finishes including marble and wood grain if not with specially produced wallpaper – we were warned before entering not to touch the walls which are utterly splendid.
