Walpole Park stands as one of Ealing's most significant green spaces, offering residents a connection to both nature and local history. The park's Grade II listed ornamental bridge and carefully preserved features reflect its status as a cherished local landmark.
The park takes its name from the Walpole family, whose connection to the area runs deep. The ornate facade of the former Walpole Picture Theatre, which once stood nearby, was preserved on the wall of the building at 3 Mattock Lane after the cinema's demolition in 1981. This act of preservation demonstrates Ealing's commitment to maintaining its architectural heritage even as the area develops.
The 1912 Walpole Picture Theatre was replaced by Walpole House, a 1980s office building that itself was demolished in 2018 alongside the 1906 YMCA building on Bond Street. These demolitions cleared the way for the £100 million Filmworks development, a St George project that Ealing Council designated as a Cultural Quarter. Construction on the Filmworks scheme began in earnest in January 2019, with expected completion during 2021.
The Filmworks development includes a Picturehouse multiplex cinema, addressing a gap in local entertainment facilities that opened when Ealing's last remaining screen, the Empire, closed in 2008. The development preserves the Empire's distinctive 1934 quasi-Egyptian art deco facade whilst adding 200 contemporary apartments, a central piazza, shops, restaurants, and bars.
Walpole Park itself offers residents a pond, a cafe, and the ornamental bridge that attracts visitors and photographers. The park serves as a reminder of Ealing's historical layers, from its cinema heritage to its Victorian and Edwardian architecture. For Ealing residents, the park represents continuity amidst change: a space that has adapted over decades whilst maintaining its essential character.
The connection between Walpole Park and the area's cinematic history illustrates how Ealing has balanced preservation with development. As the borough continues to evolve, with projects like the Filmworks scheme reshaping the town centre, green spaces like Walpole Park provide a vital link to the area's past. The preserved cinema facade on Mattock Lane and the Grade II listed bridge within the park itself ensure that Ealing's history remains visible to those who walk its streets today.