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Brentford in 1960.

Remarkable footage of Brentford in 1960 shot by Kingston Art Students:http://player.bfi.org.uk/film/watch-kingston-college-of-arts-students-union-film-society-what-and-where-is-paradise-brentford-1960s-1960/JL

Jim Linwood ● 3909d5 Comments

Thanks for that special treat Jim... as other posters have said.It has been a great shame that over all the years... over 60... that Brentford's hard working residents have been denied access to the Thames riverbanksto either relax or enjoy the wonderful views. From Kew Bridge westwards the banks were dominated by wharfs and yards, the ruddy smelly gasworks, Council yards, the Brentford Docks and railways.. and further west where commerce faded....the great Duke of Northumberland ' s estate dominated the riverside scene.  Buzz off you Brentford lot... go and see the River Thames down by the London Apprentice Pub (in Isleworth!).Really it's been a disgrace. Those poor so and so's in Distillery Road etc were denied much.  That Kingston University film shows the grim environment that Brentford folk tolerated for far too long.Now we have the developers hogging the Thames views.... and at Waterman's Park... Joe publics views of the Thames are hampered by those ugly boats and barges. Bring on the Marina I'd say... and let's see the River.In the film I was particularly pleased/thrilled to see the old Horseferry Rowing Club boathouse at that slipway aside Kew Bridge. It was the North Thames Gas RC... visited by many local crews... and there used to be a Horseferry Regatta!

Jim Lawes ● 3907d

What a treat.... thanks for posting this.

Sarah Thomas ● 3909d

Isn't that interesting? Seems like another world, I remember going through Brentford on the trolley bus and that pong from the gasworks, nice to see The Beehive looks just the same. Lovely to see the old market too, you do see some of that in the original series of The Sweeney.

Vanessa Smith ● 3909d

I agree it was fascinating to see inside the gas works and see Brentford as it was.  I'd forgotten all those shops on the High Street especially the bakers. Wonder if that student would approve of what's gone on since !

Pat Kingham ● 3909d

"This is a marvellous film, directed by Chris Owen, a student at Kingston Art School keen to explore Brentford’s industrial architecture. Numerous wonderful shots are taken of the area, many focussing on the gasworks – which he also films from inside – but also of wharves, shops, a funeral, factories, housing, advertisements, churches and drinkers outside the Beehive pub. Much of the vocal track comes from conversations with curious schoolchildren."JL

Jim Linwood ● 3909d