Coty factory, Great West Road

December 15, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Coty perfume and cosmetics factory, Great West Road – Wallis, Gilbert & Partners – 1932

former Coty perfume and cosmetics factory

former Coty factory entrance

Opposite the former Firestone building, this factory was used for the manufacture of Coty soaps, lipsticks, scents and creams until 1979.  It has been under scaffolding for a while and is still getting some work done inside, I look forward to it looking rather scrummy in a few months time, hopefully.

Next door to it is a new Audi centre, which, judging by an old photo I’ve seen, used to be a very lovely towered factory for Brittol Ltd and later for Admiralty Oil – massive shame it’s gone.

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

The Hoover Building

September 14, 2008 By 11 Comments

Hoover factory, Western Ave, Perivale – Wallis, Gilbert & Partners – 1931-38

The best building in world ever – the Art Deco factory fan’s Mecca – no more words necessary. Enjoy…

The Hoover Building

The Hoover Building

Hoover / Tesco car park

Hoover / Tesco car park

rear entrance

rear entrance

Hoover factory canteen rear

Hoover factory canteen rear

Hoover factory canteen front

Hoover factory canteen front

main gates

main gates

front entrance

front entrance

dog and deco porn shot

dog and deco porn

Filed Under: Wallis, Gilbert and Partners, Western Avenue (A40) Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hayes Cocoa (now Nestle)

September 13, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Hayes Cocoa factory, now Nestle (since 1949) – Wallis, Gilbert & Partners & Truscon – 1932(?)

Problem is they won’t let anyone, let alone a mutt like, anywhere on the premises without prior arranged permission with the Nestle HR –  and I’m just not that organised, so here’s the gates. (With this tight security I wonder if they’ve got a load of Oompa Loompas working there?)

I know this next piccie isn’t deco, but it’s pretty cool – it’s the back of the Nestle factory complex that backs onto the Grand Union Canal. You can smell it for miles, and I love it!

Filed Under: Hayes, Truscon, Wallis, Gilbert and Partners Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

EMI factory, Hayes

September 13, 2008 By 2 Comments

EMI/HMV factories, Hayes – Wallis, Gilbert & Partners – 1930s

EMI factory Hayes

hmv factory?

Is this the HMV factory?

These railings were far too high for me to get anywhere near into shot, so very sorry I don’t feature in this photo – but I thought it would be worth you getting to see the building from a different angle.

EMI factory Hayes

Hayes EMI complex

I don’t know too much about these factory buildings I’m afraid. In fact I don’t know if the building in this bottom photo is even part of the EMI complex, but I liked it anyway so struck a pose. Part of this complex is the HMV factory, I think its the top one (and the one from other side of railway line), but please do let me know if you’ve got any more info.

The site that I think is the HMV factory is about to be developed, and the security guards very kindly let me into the site to get up close and personal to the building. They also kindly kept their blimmin’ huge guard dog away from me, which was good because it was too early in  the morning for a fight.

Filed Under: architect unknown, Hayes, Wallis, Gilbert and Partners Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Simmonds Aerocessories

August 24, 2008 By 2 Comments

Simmonds Aerocessories, Great West Road, Brentford – Wallis, Gilbert & Partners – 1937

Simmonds Aerocessories side entrance

They used to manufacture parts and patent devices for military aircraft until 1947.  In 1955 the building was taken over as headquarters for Beecham Group Ltd, which now as GlaxoSmithKline has its HQ across the road in new purpose-built complex. The Simmonds Aerocessories factory has recently been developed into executive apartments by Barrett (which explains the blimmin’ banners spoiling my shots below) and has been renamed Wallis House.

Simmonds Aerocessories

At the top of the main entrance tower is a sculpture of an angel / airman by Eric Gill who designed created the famous sculpture of Prospero and Ariel on BBC Broadcasting House and the typeface Gill Sans. Unfortunately, for the best view I’d need to get on top of the M4 flyover, which is right in front of the building, but you can see a good photo of it on the Art of the State website.

Simmonds Aerocessories railing

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