Firestone Tyre Factory

The Firestone Tyre Factory on the Great West Road in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow was an example of Art Deco architecture. It was designed by Wallis, Gilbert and Partners for the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company.[1] Built on a 26-acre site, it opened in October 1928[2][3] and was the second factory to open on the Great West Road, following Hudson-Essex Motors of Great Britain Limited which opened in 1927.[4][5]

Firestone Tyre Factory
1963 view of the factory
Location within Greater London
General information
Town or cityBrentford
CountryUnited Kingdom
Coordinates51°29′5.9″N 0°19′18.7″W
DestroyedAugust 1980
Design and construction
Architecture firmWallis, Gilbert and Partners

Demolition and controversy

The company announced in November 1979 that it would close the factory.[6][7]

After its purchase by Trafalgar House PLC, the building was demolished during the August 1980 bank holiday weekend, reportedly in anticipation of its becoming listed.[8][9] The Twentieth Century Society call the structure their "first serious case" and say that its destruction[10] "[...] focused public attention on the necessity for greater protection for 20th century buildings and led directly to the listing of 150 examples of inter-war architecture (including Battersea Power Station) by the government". The gates, piers and railings fencing the site received a Grade II listing in 2001.[1]

See also

References
  1. "Central Gates, Gate Piers and Railings to the Former Firestone Factory – Hounslow – Greater London – England". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 17 October 2013. Central gates, gate piers and railngs to the former Firestone Factory. 1928 by Wallis, Gilbert and Partners.
  2. "25 years on – the end of Firestone (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)". Richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk. 1 September 2005. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  3. Wireless to THE NEW YORK TIMES. (17 October 1928). "FIRESTONE, IN AKRON, ADDRESSES LONDONERS - Tire Manufacturer Uses Radio for Speech at Opening of New Factory. - Article". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  4. "The Great West Road Then & Now | Brentford & Chiswick Local History Society". brentfordandchiswicklhs.org.uk. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  5. A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3: Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell, Sunbury, Teddington, Heston and Isleworth, Twickenham, Cowley, Cranford, West Drayton, Greenford, Hanwell, Harefield and Harlington (1962), Heston and Isleworth: Economic and social history, pages 114–119. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  6. "Firestone Plans Cuts in Europe". The New York Times. 15 November 1979. The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company Ltd, said today that it would discontinue operations at its Brentford, Middlesex, plant within the next three [...]
  7. "Los Angeles Times: Archives – Firestone to Cut European Output". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. 15 November 1979. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  8. Fiona MacCarthy (20 November 2004). "Grand designs | Art and design". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  9. "'Erotic gherkin' company has 'form'". The Daily Telegraph. London. 25 August 2000. Trafalgar House used to own the Firestone Building on Western Avenue. Two days before the building was to be listed, it flattened that, too.
  10. "About us – The Twentieth Century Society". C20society.org.uk. Retrieved 17 October 2013.

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