Great West Road (A4)

Coty factory, Great West Road

December 15, 2008 By Pickles 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: 1930s, architecture, art deco, Brentford, Coty, Coty Cosmetics, dog, factory, Gilbert and Partners, Golden Mile, Great West Road, isleworth, jack russell terrier, London industry, perfumery, photograph, Pickles, Wallis

Simmonds Aerocessories

August 24, 2008 By Pickles 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: 1930s, art deco London, art deco sculpture, Barrett Homes, Beecham Group Ltd, Beecham SmithKline, Eric Gill, Eric Gill sculpture, factory, GlaxoSmithKline, Golden Mile, housing redevelopment, M4, Simmonds Aerocessories, Wallis House, wartime aircraft

The former Packard works steps, Brentford

August 1, 2008 By Pickles 7 Comments

Packard works (Leonard Williams Ltd), Great West Road, Brentford - 1931 – Wallis, Gilbert and Partners

This site is where they assembled and serviced the Canadian Packard cars. In March 1945 a V2 rocket destroyed the factory and all the remains are the original steps to the showroom. The bomb left 32 dead and 102 seriously injured, which makes the sad loss of the building seem a bit insignificant by comparison.

It is now site to a remarkably dull Curry’s retail centre – rather ironic, as it is just along the road from the impressive former Curry’s HQ (see previous post).