London, England Not content with visiting his city home and museum, I got another dose of Sir John Soane by visiting his house in the country, Pitzhanger Manor.
In 1794, Soane had moved his family into the building which eventually became his museum in central London. It was a bit packed with family, various apprentices, and his collections. But, since he had a successful architectural practice in London, holding the post of architect to the Bank of England, that enabled him to expand.
In early 1800, Soane decided to acquire a country home west of London. He intended it as a country villa for entertaining guests, to showcase his architectural skills and his collection of art and antiquities. He bought a large property and, though he initially planned to build a new house from the ground up, he saw potential worth saving in the existing Pitzhanger manor, and adapted his plans.
Fully completed in 1804, the central section of the house displays many typical Soane architectural features: quartered and canopy dome ceilings, inset mirrors, and wooden panelling, interior windows. Much of Soane’s collection of paintings and classical antiquities now at the Soane Museum were bought for and originally housed in Pitzhanger Manor.
One fun installation was in the dining room — which Soane called “the Eating Room” — where a typical dinner party was illustrated with place settings containing comments on the hosts and frequent guests.
His wife hated the house; his sons hated him; his dream of an architectural dynasty died on the vine. But he had 10 years to exercize his creative vision.
Yet another fabulous place for me to enjoy.