Ealing Council has announced plans to invest more than £500,000 in Southall Manor House and restore the Elizabethan building.

On Tuesday, 23 February 2010, the council’s Cabinet approved the allocation of £560,000 for the manor house. Over the next two years the council plans to pay for essential repairs including works to the roof and painting the outside.

An archaeologist will join the project over the next few months to survey the building before the works begin.

Council Leader, Councillor Jason Stacey, said: "The council is keen to regenerate every corner of the borough, and there is already a lot of work underway to improve Southall."

"The Manor House is one of the borough’s gems and this investment will go a long way to preserving it so generations can come and learn about its history."

In addition to the major works on the house, plans are already underway to improve the grounds of Southall Manor House by restoring the pool and garden and introducing a community history project.

This is being run by the council, alongside Groundwork London, and is being funded with £50,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and an extra £30,000 from the council.

Work to build a new children’s play area in the park is about to begin and it is due to open in April. The council is investing £68,000 in the play area, and there will be additional grant funding.