for fans of dogs and Art Deco factory buildings
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, 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 […]
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 […]
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.
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…**