Multi-million pound restoration work is underway to transform Gunnersbury Park and Museum.
The first phase of the £21m project will see the museum and grounds brought back to their former glory as well as providing a major new sporting hub for the boroughs of Hounslow and Ealing.
Leader of Hounslow council, councillor Steve Curran, and leader of Ealing council, councillor Julian Bell, were at the site, on the borders of Brentford and Acton, to officially launch the project.
Mr Curran said: “It’s very exciting to get the regeneration of Gunnersbury Park and Museum underway.
"It’s a fantastic opportunity to leave a legacy for both boroughs that will be enjoyed for generations to come.
“It will make best use of the grounds providing a great backdrop for some excellent sporting facilities.”
The park will remain open while the transformation of the mansion house is carried out, however the museum will remain closed until 2017.
On completion of the entire project, £40m will have been spent on turning the grounds into a major centre of learning, providing a first class sports hub with indoor and outdoor facilities including right floodlit tennis courts, eight grass football and rugby pitches and three cricket pitches.
The museum overhaul will shine a light on the history of the area from agricultural heritage to multicultural wealth, and the parks landscaped gardens will be restored to their former splendour.
The grounds also contain 17 listed buildings – four of which are at-risk Grade II-listed outbuildings which will be preserved for posterity.
Councillor Julian Bell added: “This is a big step towards realising our 15-year masterplan for Gunnersbury's 100-year anniversary in 2026.
"The project is a massive undertaking, but we want to get it right.
"It involves large elements of preservation and restoration work which, when finished will bring the park’s historic buildings back to life and cement an amazing legacy for future generations to enjoy.”
The regeneration work is jointly funded by Hounslow Council, Ealing Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery Fund.
