Coty factory, Great West Road

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 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.

Simmonds Aerocessories

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 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.

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.

The former Packard works steps, Brentford

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).

Curry’s factory – 991 Great West Road

The Curry’s factory / 991 Great West Road – 1936 – F E Simkins

main entrance to Curry's factory

Pickles at former Curry's factory

Restored by Foster and Partners between 1997 and 2000 for J C Decaux.

Great West Road – “The Golden Mile”

overlooking the (not quite so anymore) 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.

Pyrene building, ‘Golden Mile’

 

Pyrene Building, Great West Road, Brentford – 1929-30 – Wallis, Gilbert and Partners

 

Former fire extinguisher factory, opposite the Firestone Factory.

 

Pyrene factory entrance

 

Pyrene factory

Gillette Factory, Brentford

Gillette Factory, Gillette Corner, Brentford - Sir Banister Fletcher – 1936

Pickles at Gillette Corner

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 stopped production in 2006 and moved out in 2007.

Pickles at Gillette Clock Tower

Pickles at Gillette Clock Tower

You can view the Bonnington redevelopment plans for the Gillette Factory site at: http://www.gillettecorner.com  (let me know what you think!)

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…**