Forum Topic

Come on Mr Lawes - get down to the Music Museum !

As resident photographer and foundation member of the Brentford style council I am very surprised you have not yet offered your electronic etchings of the new music museum now the hoardings have been taken down.It is a sight to behold - how anybody who hasn't gone blind yet could admire the tranquil mix of terracotta, grey and blue (let alone the yet-to-be-switched on pink and purple vertical stripes) is beyond me.So now the set is complete - the lovely blue and grey of the Travelodge, the terracotta, grey and white of Capital West, and now all colours combined on one building.Thank goodness sanity kept their hands off St George's Church.Heavens above !

Stephen Browne ● 6934d26 Comments

LucyFancy that..a pianola in your house. There can't be too many of them around in a domestic setting.I recall seeing one playing on a staircase at Harrods, Knightsbridge..and then another one at the Hilton Hotel on the Great South West Road at Heathrow.  No doubt after too much repetition the staff want to switch it off!What sort of music do you have on the rolls..if you don't mind my asking. Give the neighbours a musical treat! Let me find one on YouTube again!His short pianola piece is called "Happy Feet"!!

Jim Lawes ● 6577d

I've got a pianola and c. 50 piano rolls.  My parents bought it for £5 in auction about 40 years ago.  I haven't played them for ages, because I think my neighbours would object to the racket.  It's good exercise for the legs though!

Lucy Chambers ● 6578d

HughIsn't this your playing style?  Interesting views of the mechanics at work!

Jim Lawes ● 6579d

HughWe'd love to hear you tinkering away at the Werlitzer..and maybe something can be arranged!!  Do you have any recordings of yourself playing honky-tonk on the piano?For myself..when I start running out of lolly..which won't be long..I reckon playing a barrel organ in Brentford High Street might earn me a crust or two. What do you reckon?--------------------------------------------------------

Jim Lawes ● 6579d

Werlitzer,              This was always my dream to do...play...         Me at Paramount Theatre Wurlitzer, Oakland CA.                   

Hugh Telford ● 6579d

http://www.musicalmuseum.co.ukThe Musical Museum's website is well worth a visit. It seems that they have been working their socks off to get the "Big new attraction" ready.It says on the website that the Werlitzer had to be pushed down the street..to go from the old Museum to the new..much to the amusement of passers by!No wonder this Hoffnung cartoon is perhaps appropriate!

Jim Lawes ● 6580d

These are the sort of ""semi automatic!"" instruments that were keenly displayed and demonstrated at the old Piano Museum by Frank Holland and his more recent colleagues.

Jim Lawes ● 6580d

Many of the instruments at the Old Piano Museum used to be unusual automatic instruments.Here is an accordian that apparently doesn't need fingers!!..found in cyberspace!I'm looking forward to Concerts at the new venue. It has a largish auditorium.Click and watch and listen!

Jim Lawes ● 6580d

Jim Lawes ● 6580d

Brahms or Lizst or even a few tunes on the pianola!!

Jim Lawes ● 6581d

Passing by that jazzy buiding today in the sunlight..I wondered how they are getting on fitting out the building.adjacent to Holland Gardens.I'm really looking forward to its opening..and believe that it will be a gem of an attraction for many many people. There were some cars outside and no doubt members were busy there continuing with the hard work.  Anyone have any news?I believe that the local Chamber of Commerce were planning a trip round the unfinished Museum in November (no reports submitted to the Forum!!)and Carolyn Hammond the local historian mentioned recently that she had made a visit. (me too twice!!)oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooFresh pictures today!ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Jim Lawes ● 6656d

Hi JimThe building's looking good and waterproof, which I understand was a major worry to the force of volunteers who ran the old museum in their spare time, and are probably going to offer up their spare time to attend this building. Even if it's  not to everyone's taste, the lights on the outside must be there to reflect the long gone fairground that had a permanent home just over the other side of Kew Bridge all those years ago!It's the sort of thing that only us Brits can do well, has anyone come across a book by the name of B*****ks to Alton Towers?  You'll know what I mean if you've read it. Look forward to visiting when it opens ...

Christine Hooper ● 6922d

Paul and Stephen and all..Thanks for your replies...and also the note that the Church wasn't being particularly well looked after.I assume they are still working there at the moment getting ready for the move.Are there any suggestions circulating about how the Church Tower and the older main building can best be utilized?I recall the hanging light fittings...unusual and suspended above ones head and believe they would once have been used for gas lighting. It would have been in the 1950's that I attended a service there.

Jim Lawes ● 6926d

Stephen That's very interesting, first they didn't look after the building they were in and then they were attending a meeting to have it pulled down, not very friendly towards the Brentford community is it.My Grandmother & Grandfather who were married in St Georges Church, would turn over in their grave if they new what was happening to the church today.

Paul Allen ● 6927d

Firstly to Mr Lawes...Not offended at all - I like looking at your images and regularly look forward to your submissions - appreciated!Secondly to Mr Allen...> Then on the other hand, they may have attended just> as interested parties, ;-)Sadly I can assure you from first-hand evidence the determination was to see St George's Church demolished. I can only hope the motivation was sufficient enough.

Stephen Browne ● 6927d

No, not with you Jim.With the outside of the building, the Architect (if they used one) either designed it on the back of a fag packet, or forgot to engage brain before putting pen to paper.I cannot comment on what it looks like with the lights turned on, but it may be designed to look like a fair ground ride, and no doubt one of the organs can provide the back ground music.  If this extract from another post (below) is correct then I’m really disappointed, not really community minded of them is it.Then on the other hand, they may have attended just as interested parties,;-)  Yes I too am a fan despite two directors of the Music Museum attending the appeal for St George's Church with a view to having the church demolished.  

Paul Allen ● 6927d

Stephen..All that hard work I did to get those pictures...and on to the website too?I obliged!  Are you now upset with it all? Or me?  Or my opinion?I know that a lot of people will think that its awful...but once the neon lights are turned on it should look much.........!!;0)

Jim Lawes ● 6928d

Jim,Magnificent photos as always.  The tower in the background enables me to place the new (hideously ugly) building.Your tour of the inside of the museum was very good, and your cleaning efforts have left the place looking spotlessly clean.  Good for you!

Ann S. Allridge ● 6932d

Jim no doubt the contents will be very interesting with welcoming staff, but the outside is like something you see when having nightmares.The architect needs to be deported to the furthest colony and sentence to hard labour for inflicting that eyesore on Brentford residents. 

Paul Allen ● 6933d

Probably going to be a great asset inside, but what an ugly,badly built(you can see all the joins)building for such a benign purpose.

Keith Iddon ● 6933d

Well next time you pass by the new Museum..you'll at least have some idea whay it might be like inside!ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooBy the way..those colourful strips on the front of the new building..are in fact decorative lighting..and it has been tried and tested. Anyone see the illumination?oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooI can understand Stephen being alarmed by the patchwork of finishes on the buildings along the Brentford Riviera (opposite the Kew World Heritage Site!!)..but I feel that the discordance is now caused by the reddy tiles on the Social Housing on the Holland estate!  I recall friends drawing my attention to those fears before. They look old and run down after so few years!!..Or do they? What is your view or opinion?oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooThey'll probably be some formal text of this facing..so don't be too alarmed!!ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooToday's efforts concluded!! 

Jim Lawes ● 6933d

So the cleaning up operation was finished today..it's now all spick and spam for the handover Thursday. I was priviledge to be allowed in...to record some pictures for the local Community!  Today it's the builder's site..tomorrow the Museums? That's right I believe.Anyway..do come in!ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooLots of rooms off the carpeted corridors..for exhibits,study, and all and a cafeteria!!ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooWow..there's an auditorium! ....and a stage!! still to be kitted out:ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooThere's a balcony too!!ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooIf you come upstairs with me...watch the paint it's still a bit tacky!ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooThere are no seats fitted yet...but do you like the carpet?ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooFrom the balcony..you can see the orchestra pit clearly.Isn't it exciting?  An orchestra pit in Brentford!!ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooOh yes...have a peep...you can just see the Thames!ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooThe reception area just needs a tidy up.....ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooand then it's over to you!ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooend of .."inside the museum".

Jim Lawes ● 6933d

Stephen, You perhaps don't realise how timely your posting was...because today was the final day of building the new Museum...and the hand-over (signing off) takes place tomorrow Thursday.After that ceremony, the Museum people will probably start to move in this weekend!! they will be so thrilled.oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooThe Builders' Clean operation was finished this afternoon with the polishing of windows and the dusting of edges, but the black paint on the metal bannisters were still wet!ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooProbably no Brentford locals working inside cleaning it up..they're too lazy perhaps....even the unemployed or those on jankers...just a team of Polish ladies working like the clappers. And me of course!!I removed the last piece of fluff from the reception area..and "we" are now ready to go go go!!ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooI've made sure it's all loverly and clean for the hand-overand I hope you will appreciate my efforts!!ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooI'll show you around in a short while!!

Jim Lawes ● 6933d

Yes I too am am a fan despite two directors of the Music Museum attending the appeal for St George's Church with a view to having the church demolished.I look forward to visiting the new museum when open - but just can't justify such poor taste in external colour rendering I'm afraid.

Stephen Browne ● 6933d

Looking forward to your new pictures Jim! I know you won't pass up this opportunity to impress us!!

Audrey Walton ● 6934d

Stephen you called!!  Isn't that good news that the hoardings are down ....thus offering a new aspect for passers by to admire?The gentleman in charge showed me round the inside of the building some months ago when it was just a shell. It's going to be tremendous asset to the area..and I'm a fan. Children and students,residents and visitors will marvel at the new delights of dear old Brentford!These snaps are some months old now...but one can get some idea of the treat in store. Thanks for the news..read here first!ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo          oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Jim Lawes ● 6934d