Forum Topic

Was There a Mustard Factory in Brentford?

My dad used to live and work in Brentford and used to talk about a mustard factory somewhere, I think, north of the Great West Road.Does anyone remember where it might have been?My mother thinks it might have been in Enfield Road but can't properly remember.  She wondered if it was a local concession of Coleman's, obviously based in Norwich.A friend who lives in Enfield Road says he's never heard of it.

Phil Kay ● 3829d5 Comments

That rings a bell,well done Mark!

Tony Wood ● 3826d

The Factory Was Called La Favorite.

Mark Welland ● 3827d

"Was it run by a strong-minded woman?"   I was only about 10 years old,I don't think I'd have recognised one then,I do now of course...I'm married to one.   The name is still escaping me though I'm fairly sure it was in french "Le" something or other,it would probably be in a Kelly's trade directory,Jim Lawes is your man for that but he's not posting at the moment (hope he's OK). We used to go to the engineering workshop to scrounge Sorbo balls that they used for something, you could break a window at a 100yards no problem with them,never deliberately it just happened,they had a mind and a bounce of their own!The washing machines? Well you probably wouldn't get away with it today but I'm sure they cleaned them really well,and we were tougher then. I saw them pressed into use a bit later at a garage in Overdale Road (Automotive Services) they used them to mix shellac and ethanol to make gasket adhesive solely for Rolls Royce Cars,I don't think there were any explosions.

Tony Wood ● 3828d

Thanks Tony, that helps a lot!  I've been meaning to ask someone about this for years.Was it run by a strong-minded woman?  That's the only other thing I remember Dad saying about it, except that he never fancied trying the produce - maybe because of the washing machines.  That must have been a sight!

Phil Kay ● 3829d

Your Mum is nearly correct,it was in Darwin Road about 50-100 yards down from South Ealing Road on the right hand side. A quick Google Maps shows that it's gone and has been replaced with a small block of flats.   It was known as the "Mustard Factory" but "Mustard Shed" is more apt,I seem to recall that the machinery consisted mostly of modified washing machines.  It wasn't Colemans but I can't remember the name, it's gone in the mists of time .  On the same site there was a small engineering company,lathes,milling machines etc. HTH

Tony Wood ● 3829d