The Hoover Building

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…

The Hoover Building

Hoover / Tesco car park

rear entrance

Hoover factory canteen rear

Hoover factory canteen front

main gates

front entrance

dog and deco porn

Hayes Cocoa (now Nestle)

Hayes Cocoa factory, now Nestle (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 wonder if they’ve got a load of Oompa Loompas working there?)

I know this next piccie isn’t deco, but it’s pretty cool – it’s the back of the Nestle factory complex that backs onto the Grand Union Canal. You can smell it for miles, and I love it!

EMI factory, Hayes

EMI/HMV factories, Hayes – Wallis, Gilbert & Partners – 1930s

Is this the HMV factory?

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 much about these factory buildings I’m afraid. In fact I don’t know if the building in this bottom photo is even part of the EMI complex, but I liked it anyway so struck a pose. Part of this complex is the HMV factory, I think its the top one (and the one from other side of railway line), but please do let me know if you’ve got any more info.

The site that I think is the HMV factory is about to be developed, and the security guards very kindly let me into the site to get up close and personal to the building. They also kindly kept their blimmin’ huge guard dog away from me, which was good because it was too early in  the morning for a fight.

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).

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

Firestone Factory, Great West Road, Brentford

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 is now home to Sky Broadcasting and a delightful PC World.

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

And here is the main entrance in it former glory. - Heartbreaking!

 

If you want to break your heart a little more, this site has a few extra photos of the factory before and as it was knocked down: http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~garycr/2001/firestone_factory/