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Guided Walk: The Great West Road’s 100th Anniversary

Guided Walk celebrating the Great West Road’s 100th AnniversaryBank Holiday Monday 26th May 2025Meet 2.30 p.m. Market Place/corner 194 High Street, Brentford, TW8 8LBCost £3 (cash) pay the guide (Christine Diwell) on the day, no need to bookArranged by Hounslow Heritage Guides and Hounslow & District Local History Society, it’s a chance to explore this unique corridor of Art Deco architecture and hear about some famous lost inter war era buildings in company with James Marshal author of The Great West Road Centenary History.

Rob Kemp ● 47d14 Comments

The POTTING SHED event in Boston Manor Park is being held this Saturay and Sunday at 10am till 4pm.The Hounslow Council video of the preview looked interesting.

Jim Lawes ● 22d

The POTTING SHED event in Boston Manor Park is being held this Saturay and Sunday at 10am till 4pm.The Hounslow Council video of the preview looked interesting.

Jim Lawes ● 22d

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1732140477471329&rdid=SfCKIK5niCYSLHxJI went to the preview today. At the Potting Shed tomorrow and Friday. Don't miss it!I also did a blog about the surprising number of car manufacturers on the GWR back then.See Guylambert.blog orhttps://manage.wix.com/dashboard/62b50394-8ef2-40c6-94e5-39ef12a8cd33/blog/cc2d994f-df22-4afc-8111-7f6320398964/edit

Guy Lambert ● 22d

Happy 100th Great West Road!Celebrations?There are presentations and talks at the Potting Shed at Boston Manor Park in the presence of the Author of the Centenary Book by Mr James Marshall.In addition there will be a cavalcade of classic cars from the stables of the Duke of London's marvellous collection.Precise details to be sought.

Jim Lawes ● 22d

Report on https://fms.hounslowhighways.org/Hounslow Highways are excellent at clearing flytipping when reported.They do sometimes have people on (especially at weekends when the admin are not local) who think the flytipping is on the M4 and therefore not their problem. If you find this happening let me know guy.lambert@hounslow.gov.uk

Guy Lambert ● 25d

I am pleased that the grot spot under the flyover adjacent to Carville Park North / Spartans has finally been cleared of the decaying mattresses etc in the last month. Congratulations to whoever managed to achieve it.

Tim Henderson ● 25d

Actually it is not the council. It is the Department for Transport (in WHitehall) and National Highways (which I think it is still called this week) and their contractors Connect Plus, a subsidiary of Balfour Beatty. Balfour Beatty are notable for fraud, illegal blacklisting and ignoring Health and Safety regulations according to Wikipedia.They say in a response to a Brentford FC protest that they will clear the extensive graffiti on the structure of the M4, which would be a first (other than when in the past there had been a suggestion that a royal funeral would come that way).I have offered to send them pictures of the extensive graffiti that is there today (or was yesterday!)

Guy Lambert ● 27d

We know that the Great West Road will be 100 years old on Friday 30th May.How could it be celebrated on that day one wonders?Well it seems that Hounslow Council has announced that the road will be closed to traffic from 10pm on many nights ... on, before and after, to facilitate a survey of its structure and the M4 pillars!I suppose that will provide safety for any dancers on the roadway after 10pm!

Jim Lawes ● 27d

The GWR 100 walk is on the Mondaybut the actual 100th Anniversary is on the Friday of that week ...being on the 30th May 2025.Never mind ... the walk will be great and I gather that some of the existing buildings will be open to view as well. Details not known.This website's Front Page directs one to a "GM100" website with more information.My understanding is that the Great West Road was originally opened in two or three stages.The King and Queen at that time ...George V and Queen Mary must have been delighted with the event.No longer did they have to drive through Brentford High Street ... when on their way from London to Windsor ... or Ascot!

Jim Lawes ● 43d

www.hounslow-heritage.org.uk All info you need is on here.

David Squire ● 44d

Unfortunately I won't be around for this one. Great idea which perhaps will be repeated.Just for interest, about how long will the walk be or, perhaps easier to say, which length of the GWR will it cover? Thanks.

Anne England ● 45d

Highly recommend these Heritage Walks, surprising how you can live in an area for years and then find out things you never knew!

Vanessa Smith ● 45d

I still miss the Firestone building, torn down two minutes ahead of a listing!

Susan Kelly ● 47d

Thanks.How long does the walk last?

Keith Iddon ● 47d