Firestone Factory, Great West Road, Brentford

June 25, 2008 By

The Firestone tyre factory – Great West Road – London – 1928 - Wallis Gilbert & Partners

Demolished in 1980, I believe on the day before a preservation order was due to come into effect (although this could be a local myth?), all that’s left are the boundary wall and entrances.  THe rest of the site is now home to Sky Broadcasting and a delightful PC World.

 

Firestone gates, Great West Road

 

Firestone factory main gates with Sky TV

 

Firestone gates, Great West Road

 

Firestone factory gate    

 

Firestone gates, Great West Road

 

side entrance to Firestone factory

 

And here is the main entrance in it former glory. - Heartbreaking!

the main entrance to the Firestone Factory

 

If you want to break your heart a little more, this site has a few extra photos of the factory before and as it was knocked down: http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~garycr/2001/firestone_factory/

Filed Under: Great West Road (A4), Wallis, Gilbert and Partners Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

My last Botanic’s photo and rant

June 24, 2008 By Leave a Comment

 

Botanic Gardens Garage on Vinicombe Lane

Vinicombe Lane – side/rear elevation of Botanic Gardens Garage.

The current plans, about to be submitted to Glasgow City Council by Keppie Design, include the demolition of this rear part of this early 20th century Garage, which makes me very sad as it is an integral part of this important historic building. Now I’m all for progress and innovative design, but it does make me wonder, what is the point of category A listing a building if you can still knock half of it down.  By applying this standard part of Edinburgh Castle (you know, just a part that you can’t really see unless you’re actually in the grounds) could be knocked down in order to create some modern duplex apartments.  Or maybe I could knock down the back of my home in Park Circus and create a modern glass conservatory and luxury dog kennel….  Grrrrr.

Filed Under: David Valentine Wyllie, Glasgow & environs Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

More Botanic Gardens Garage photos

June 23, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Just a few more piccies for you whilst I decide what I really think about the plans for the redevelopment of the garage into flats… (see my last post for more info)

Pickles outside botanics  

Am I howling in despair or pensive contemplation of the plans?

 

Pickles at Botanic Gardens Garage, Glasgow

 

Pickles at Botanics Garage, sporting a handlebar moustache

This one is my favourite.  I think this should qualify my membership of the Handlebar Club.

Filed Under: David Valentine Wyllie, Glasgow & environs Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Botanic Gardens Garage, Glasgow

June 18, 2008 By 1 Comment

Our first wordpress entry, and a bit of a test…

Hello,

This is our first time using WordPress, so we are going to be a bit experimental with our first posting. This blog will generally document our favourite pastime, which is taking pictures of me (Pickles) outside Art Deco and Modernist industrial buildings.  Having said that, today’s (being our experimental day) will break the rule from the start.

We went to see the new proposals for the Botanic Gardens Garage in Glasgow this evening, so we thought we’d start off with a piccy of me posing outside there.  The Botanics Garage was built in 1912 and is the oldest surviving purpose-built garage in the UK.  It was in use as a garage until last year, by Arnold Clark, but they are now planning to develop it into a block of flats despite its recent Grade A listing.

Pickles posing like Greyfriars Bobby outside the Botanics Garage

Botanic Gardens Garage, Vinicombe St, Glasgow.  1912.  architect: David Valentine Wyllie.

For more info see http://www.botanicgardensgarage.org/

and The Twentieth Century Society  which has also got a great photo of the garage back in the day.

 

Filed Under: David Valentine Wyllie, Glasgow & environs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,