for fans of dogs and Art Deco factory buildings
NAAFI Building, Notte st/Armada Way, Plymouth – E M Joseph – 1949-51 – (demolished 2010) Also known as the Hoe Centre, I managed to catch a few photos of the building before it was completely demolished in Autumn 2010. (These piccies were taken in September 2010, and I can only apologise to my loyal fans for […]
Miscellaneous factories and mills, Carlisle, Cumbria – architects tbc – dates tbc I had an extended impromptu visit to Carlisle recently so I spent my time checking out the local sites. Any info on any of the following will be greatly appreciated!
Control Tower, Dumfries Airfield, Heathall, Dumfries & Galloway – 1940 This is the restored Control Tower of the former WWII airfield at Dumfries, and the centrepiece of the Dumfries & Galloway Aviation Museum. I had wanted to include a photo of me beside a Spitfire – the perfect example of the development of Art Deco […]
St Peter’s Seminary – Cardross, Dumbartonshire – Gillespie Kidd & Coia, 1962-68 I know, I know, I can hear you all crying I should be wearing my high-viz vest in such a dangerous building… Lots has been written about this amazing but depressingly derelict building. For starters you can read lots more, see photos, find maps and […]
K8 telephone kiosks, nr Kilmartin Village – Bruce Martin, 1968 As promised a few months ago, I have found these wonderful examples of the very rare K8 telephone kiosk on the north side of the approach road to the Erskine Bridge in Renfrewshire; I’m fairly sure there are another two on the south side of […]
Weir Pumps Ltd, Cathcart works, 147-149 Newlands Road – (Offices and amenity block) Wylie, Shanks & Wylie – 1937 Weirs was founded in 1870 and moved to this site in 1886 where they manufactured pumps, boilers and other auxiliary equipment for ships. The factory began to manufacture aeroplanes in 1917 and Weir’s became the largest […]
K6 telephone box, UK – Sir Giles Gilbert Scott – 1935 I had a lovely trip last weekend to Glen Lyon in Perthshire, so I thought I’d strike a pose in front of this classic phone box with the oldest tree in Europe (and possibly the world), the Fortingall Yew, in the background. The tree […]
Carreras Cigarette Factory (now Greater London House), Mornington Crescent, London -M.E and O.H Collins with A.G Porri – 1926-8 Back “on message”, this classic Deco factory is especially for those of you who were disgusted by my last Brutalist concrete entry! On Hampstead Road, NW1, this was apparently the first factory in Britain to make […]
Trinity Square car park, Gateshead – Owen Luder – opened in 1969 (demolished 2010) I know, I know – neither Art Deco or a factory. But this building is such a distinctive landmark that I couldn’t not strike a pose when I was in the area. The building was made famous due to its appearance in […]
WD & HO Wills factory, Coast Road, Newcastle upon Tyne – Cecil Hockin – 1946 Sorry it’s been so long since my last post. These piccies were taken months ago during my Christmas travels around the country – it gets dark very early and rather quickly in December and it was a really cold day, which is […]
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 […]
Wills factory, Alexandra Parade, Glasgow – architect unknown – date 1940s? Crikey, I am surprised – I can’t find any info on who originally designed this Glasgow landmark, or when. As you can see in the photos, it’s been recently redeveloped into a business park. Admittedly I’ve been struggling to get my paws and claws around […]
Alexandra Parade, Glasgow – architect unknown – date unknown Just along the road from the old Wills factory. It’s now the WASPs studio, but I’d love to know more about it’s former life if you’ve got any info!
Templeton’s Carpet Factory, Glasgow Green – William Leiper & George A Boswell (later extensions) – 1888-92 & 1928-37 OK, I know it isn’t all even 20th century, but this has to be one of the most stunning buildings in Glasgow. The factory was designed by William Leiper for the manufacture of Axminster carpets, and the Venetian style gothic block […]
Salkeld St. Factory, Glasgow – Probably James Miller – 1933 I believe this beauty of a building was originally built for Leyland Motor Co. You can see it on your left as you come into Glasgow Central Station by train. Also, I think that the concrete rendering on the columns around the entrance covers up some fancy faience […]
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…
Aladdin factory, Western Ave, Greenford – architect unknown – date unknown I’m afraid that since they closed down the B&Q superstore that used to trade in the factory building I can’t get close to it, so had to pose on the footbridge over the A40.
Factory, Nestle’s Ave, Hayes – architect unknown – date unknown
Hayes Cocoa factory (Nestle’s 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 […]
EMI/HMV factories, Hayes – Wallis, Gilbert & Partners – 1930s 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. I don’t know too […]
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 […]
Battersea Power Station – Sir Giles Gilbert Scott – 1933 (completed 1957) (not a very good photo I’m afraid – I was very distracted by the bit of sausage I found just here – but the turbine hall is so special I thought it worthy of inclusion anyway)
Factory (Thames Photographic) at St.Margarets roundabout, Chertsy Road (A316), Twickenham – date unknown – architect unknown I’m going to have to find out a lot more about this former factory in St.Margarets. It’s a real stunner and as you can tell has been renovated fairly recently. Its used as offices, currently with space to let […]
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 […]
William Burnett Chemicals, Great West Road, Isleworth – 1933 – Wallis, Gilbert and Partners
Minimax Factory – Faggs Rd, Feltham – Architect unknown – date unknown. I love this doorway, which is all that remains of a factory on the corner of Faggs Road and Staines Road in Feltham, very close to Heathrow Airport and Hatton Cross. I just don’t know anything about it. If anyone has any info […]
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.
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.
Pyrene Building, Great West Road, Brentford – 1929-30 – Wallis, Gilbert and Partners Former fire extinguisher factory, opposite the Firestone Factory.
India of Inchinnan, Renfrewshire – 1929 – Thomas Wallis of Wallis, Gilbert and Partners Built on the site of a former airship construction station, where they built the R34 airship, which made the first ever transatlantic air crossing in both directions in 1919. The new art deco factory site was opened in 1930 and India Tyre and […]
Luma Light Bulb Factory, Shieldhall, nr Glasgow – Cornelius Armour – 1938
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 […]
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…**
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 […]
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 […]
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) Am I howling in despair or pensive contemplation of the plans? This one is my favourite. I think this should […]
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 […]
(Yes, I have to admit it, uncool as it is sometimes I do have to be chained to my bitch for “safety” reasons – this time the motorway.) Motherwell – M8 – architect and date tbc…
Bankside – 1947 – Sir Giles Gilbert Scott This is our first post, but do expect all sorts of delicious doggified twentieth century acrchitectural treats to come! This photo is of me in 2006 on my first industrial landmark spotting trip to London.