In 1755 the Brentford clockmaker, John Jullion, built a clock for the tower of the Brentford Market House. The House was demolished in 1849 and the clock was transferred to the new Town Hall that was built on the site. When this building was reconstructed in 1930 (it was by then the Magistrates’ Court) the clock was retained, and it can still be seen from the High Street. Continue reading “Brentford’s Jullion Clock”
Gauging Lock, Brentford, TW8
Built as a toll house in 1911, this is now a museum.
Grade II statutory listed
In Grand Union Canal & Boston Manor Conservation Area; Thames Policy Area
In the 18th century at the time of early canal travel, goods were carried from the Midlands to London covering 230 miles via the Oxford Canal and the Thames, meeting hold ups of fishing weirs and often floods or droughts on the Thames.
In 1793/4 the Grand Junction Canal Company built a canal to cut down this distance (as the crow flies it’s only 100 miles). Continue reading “Toll House”
O’Riordans Tavern 3 Brentford High Street, TW8 0DX Pub since construction in 1888 in Thames Policy Area History First in directory in 1888 as The Royal Tar. Also referred to as The Jolly Tar. At other times known as The Yacht, and Captain Morgans. Interesting cast iron pillars at corners of the windows. These can be seen on houses in Hamilton and Whitestile Roads. O’Riordans … Continue reading O’Riordans
Kew Bridge, Kew Road
Bridge since construction in 1903.
Grade II Statutory Listing;
in Kew Conservation Area and Thames Policy Area
This is the third bridge on the site. The coats of arms of Middlesex and Surrey on the upstream parapet were damaged by shrapnel during WW2. It was opened in 1903 by King Edward VII and King Edward VII Bridge is its correct title. Winter 2009 Janet McNamara was told by a neighbour that itʼs not shrapnel marks as officially reported but that a German fighter plane flew along the river firing a machine gun. Continue reading “Kew Bridge”
The New Inn, 1 New Road, Brentford, TW8 0NX Was and is a pub. Built 1853 or earlier. In existence by at least 1853, but the original pub is thought to be older. Further Information Brentford’s Griffin Park is the only football ground in the UK with a pub on each corner, and this is one of those four pubs. The New Inn is home … Continue reading The New Inn
The Princess Royal, 107 Ealing Road, Brentford, TW8 0LF Was and is a public house. Rebuilt 1921. Originally built in 1841. Nowell Parr designed the rebuild in 1921. Further Information Brentford’s Griffin Park is the only football ground in the UK with a pub on each corner, and this is one of those four pubs. The Princess Royal [mapsmarker marker=”7″] Continue reading The Princess Royal
The Royal Oak, 38 New Road, Brentford TW8 0NU Was and is a public house. Built 1894, possibly rebuilt in 1920s Licensed by 1894. Further Information Brentford’s Griffin Park is the only football ground in the UK with a pub on each corner, and this is one of those four pubs. [mapsmarker marker=”6″] Continue reading The Royal Oak
The Griffin, Brook Road South, Brentford TW8 0NP Was and is a public house. Built 1883. History Fuller Smith & Turner pub since 1883. Served as the first club house and changing room for the football club. Regularly used for filming, including Green Street (2005) with Elijah Wood. The Griffin has been run for over 16 years by Ralph and Sue Clifden who retire this … Continue reading The Griffin
At the end of the thirteenth century the Manor of Boston was given to the Priory of St Helen’s, Bishopsgate by King Edward I. It’s thought that the Priory may have used the Manor as a country retreat and as a place to grow food. Later they were granted a charter to hold a weekly market and an annual six day fair around St Lawrence’s Day in August.
The stalls would originally have been along the High Street – at that time little more than a wide track – but the market flourished due to easy access by river and locally grown produce for sale. By about 1587 it expanded in to an orchard on the north side of the High Street still called Market Place and expanded in to the Butts.
Locally grown produce was sold to merchants from London. Transport links by road and river were good and the carts and boats carrying fruit and vegetables returned filled with what was politely called ‘night soil’ which was used as fertiliser. Baskets for carrying the fruit and vegetables were made locally from the osiers cut from the willow trees grown on the aits or islands in the Thames. Continue reading “The Markets and Growers of Brentford”
Boston Manor House, Brentford, TW8 9JX
Now Open to the Public; Was Residential
Built 1622/1623
Grade 1 Statutory Listed;
on English Heritage “At Risk” list
in Grand Union Canal & Boston Manor Conservation Area
Original part of the house built 1622/23 for Lady Mary Reade.
Extended 1670 by James Clitherow whose descendants extended and made alterations until 1922/3 when it was sold to Brentford Local Board (later Borough of B&C – now London Borough of Hounslow) with the area of the park. Continue reading “Boston Manor House”
The History of Brentford 