Coty factory, Great West Road

coty cosmetics factory

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

Simmonds Aerocessories

Simmonds Aerocessories side entrance

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

The former Packard works steps, Brentford

steps to former Packard factory

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 […]

Curry’s factory – 991 Great West Road

Pickles at former Curry's factory

The Curry’s factory / 991 Great West Road – 1936 – F E Simkins Restored by Foster and Partners between 1997 and 2000 for J C Decaux.

Great West Road – “The Golden Mile”

overlooking the Golden Mile

Me on the foot bridge between the old Firestone Factory and the Pyrene factory. Looking east along the ‘Golden Mile’ towards Chiswick, you can still see the former Curry’s factory, but many of the other art deco factories have gone now. You can just see the top of the new(ish) Glaxo Smith Kline HQ.

Gillette Factory, Brentford

Pickles at Gillette Corner

Gillette Factory, Gillette Corner, Brentford – Sir Banister Fletcher – 1936 This is was the last factory on the Great West Road, “Golden Mile”, to be occupied by the original company it was built for. Built for Gillette, the razor manufacturer, the design of the building frontage is said to resemble a razor. Sadly, Gillette finally […]

Natwest bank, Gillette Corner

Natwest Bank, Gillette Corner

Just a quickie today… Natwest Bank, Gillette Corner, Brentford –  architect tbc (possibly Sir Banister Fletcher ?) – date tbc (possibly 1936?) – I’ll keep you posted once I’ve done some rrrresearch.   **Update: For now have a read of the 2nd comment below…**

Firestone Factory, Great West Road, Brentford

Firestone gates, Great West Road

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 […]