Forum Topic

The Kew Bridge area, Brentford TW8 revisited!

It's as well that Sir John Betjeman (RIP) has missed seeing the current state of the Kew bridge area..on the Brentford side..otherwise he'd have a fit!"Come friendly bombs and fall on the Brentford side of Kew Bridge" would become a justified variation of the Slough poem. It really is shocking.When King Edward the 7th came through Chiswick in the early 1900's to open the splendid Bridge,named after him, admiring the Station,the Fountain and troughs, The Express Pub, and perhaps the Star and Garter Hotel..with Kew Gardens just over the way...he would have had no inkling that 100 years on... local Brentfordians would have allowed the vicinity to become an eyesore.The area would have been bussling before..but I doubt if there were so many signs of neglect.Many will remember the Fairground on the other side of the Bridge, the posh rowing boats, the 65 bus stop..the gateway to days out, the Scout  and Cub Troops under the Arches, The Boathouse dancehall, the Plough and the Waggon and Horses, the trolleybuses gliding by. Those were days gone by. Do we just remember the good sights..or is the area really becoming a dump?

Jim Lawes ● 6859d21 Comments

Jim,This is the closest I've ever been to the beautiful old tower...thanks as always.

Ann S. Allridge ● 6840d

Sorry about that whopper of a photo..here it is again in digestible size!

Jim Lawes ● 6840d

This thread is not dead yet! Thanks for all your responses.The Kew Bridge area has lots of places to view and visit..and only today I found myself there again. So more pictures..from this little camera..I just point and click!Can you imagine being one of the many builders erecting this landmark 100 years ago. Long step ladder!ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooThere's a memorial garden in the Steam Museum grounds too..where one can bask in the sunshine..and quietly and survey the Victorian surroundings.ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooBut remnants are never far away!

Jim Lawes ● 6840d

Thanks for that, Jim, they certainly had a lovely day for the Fayre in 2005.Imagine the incredible event that took place not too far from that Green 74 years ago!

Ann S. Allridge ● 6855d

From the pictures it looks like it was a roaring success last year!

Audrey Walton ● 6855d

Just across the bridge from Brentford... must be worth a visit too.See the fine website!http://www.kewfayre.org/

Jim Lawes ● 6855d

KevinThats probably the idea..build a gigantic office block across the railway lines and Station premises..and the adjoining derelict building..just like Gunnersbury Station!An old picture of the old active Market held along the road towards Brentford. See the fountain?

Jim Lawes ● 6855d

Kew Bridge Station was designed by the famous architect Sir William Tite who also designed the Royal Exchange in London & opened in 1849.I'm sure that if this building was in another borough (i.e. Richmond/Ealing) it would not be allowed to fall into this state.Although probably owned by Railtrack or whatever they are called nowadays the local council must have some say in the matter before the building ends up being demolished & another (empty) office block ends up in its place!!

Kevin Farnan ● 6855d

Hello JimI remember the fair and the boathouse and all the other things it was lovely to read it, took me back to the good days.            Regards Rita

Rita Johnson ● 6856d

n/m

Ian Roberts ● 6857d

ColinPerhaps your folks were thinking of feeding you to the starving whale that had swum up the Thames to Kew!It obviously wasn't interested in the dangling dish of the day..its last chance to survive..and scuppered itself on the Surrey bank! 

Jim Lawes ● 6858d

Ah yes, Kew Bridge - responsible for both my fear of heights and water. That would be being dangled as an 18mth toddler by the ankles after a lunchtime session at the Star & Garter.

The Pseudometer ● 6858d

Thanks for the memories Jim! Sorry to see dear old Kew Station looking so "unloved". It was a station that I often used when coming home from school with my friend who lived on Lionel Road. The bridge is very familar to me, also the fairground, with the "Boathouse" that as a child I thought was a bit "risque". Like Ann I grew up with Kew Gardens being a regular Sunday afternoon jaunt.

Doris M. Lediard ● 6858d

http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=51.486247~-0.288321&style=h&lvl=18&scene=4269247Copy and paste might work better Ann. I'm still testing this.So the Boathouse was dodgy in later years was it? It's a very respecatble area now!

Jim Lawes ● 6858d

Jim,Boxes didn't work but I don't mind because I always hated the fairground - found it tatty, noisy and fearsome!  Even as a teenager, it was a place  I never wished to visit.I guess that's why I didn't like my older daugher going to the Boathouse in the late 1960s.  Couldn't stop her without a fuss, so when the night of the 'shotguns' happened I wasn't surprised and was delighted that she and her boyfriend blacklisted it.All very odd when you consider I was born several hundred yards away in leafy quiet Bushwood Road.My passion was Kew Gardens.....!

Ann S. Allridge ● 6858d

Thank you Ann and Audrey..and glad that the thread brings back memories.Fancy toofs tossing pennies from the Bridge!..and I remember Audrey's comment about waiting outside the pub (as children were barred) for the lemonade and perhaps a bag of Smiths crisps. So true!I'm trying something new here.Right click on the red box and a new view of the Fairground area on the Surrey side will appear. Also click on the x in the "welcome" section and a larger view will be available.And yes..you can use the arrows there to cross the Bridge!!

Jim Lawes ● 6858d

Jim,What can I say?  As ever, your photographs stir the old heart......On Sundays back around 1912, my Dad and his pals would be down on the Kew side of the  river bank waiting for the toffs (his description) to throw pennies from the bridge.  The kids would dive in and try to grab these as they fell...Dad used to say even if they descended into a foot of mud there was never a penny missed!And there are certain posters who say the likes of me shouldn't be allowed on the forums because we live abroad!Jim, keep the camera rolling - you are a gem!

Ann S. Allridge ● 6859d

Yes we do indeed Jim but this is absolutely awful. Who are these people living in these high priced apartments along the High Street? Don't they give a hoot about all their surroundings? All very nice to see new hotels along there to Brentford Bridge but this area by Kew Bridge Station  really needs to be cleaned up. Is all that hoarding still up along from the arches to what was The Plough? Used to be an ice cream cart there, Jaffrate from Albany Road. Loved those wafers!!As always Jim, thanks for the pictures and the commentary.

Audrey Walton ● 6859d

On the Surrey side of Kew Bridge, it was amazing to see so many people jogging, walking and cycling along the towpath. I don't mean just a half dozen..but about 30 over a period of 1 hour.Even on the river they were at it! Brentfordians don't see this.oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooThe Bridge is majestic really..oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooAnd zooming in x 12 from the riverbank..this plaque can clearly in view!oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooRemember the pub behind the fairground?..Its still there:oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooMeanwhile across the river in Brentford!A fine building compatible with the surrounding area is allowed to rot. Part of it was the old ABC Cafe!oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooAnd down by the Bridge..this is Brentford's effort to look after the area. Sad really. What can be done? It was full of rubbish and litter. Unmaintained for yonks.ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooto be continued. Our overseas viewers like pictures of home!

Jim Lawes ● 6859d

The south side of Kew Bridge is a delight. As I strolled around the Green, the Church, the elegant cared for houses, the pubs, and metal railings, and the distant restaurants it felt just so comfortable.Even walking towards the river at the side of the Bridge one observed cleanliness, care, and a sense of Civic Pride.Look at the staircase...not bad really!Generally clean and no graffiti!oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooThe arches even were a delight to the eye, one used to service cars, and a couple being well looked after by respectable traders.ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooSo what became of the old Fairground area?(remember that big roundabout with the horses, the big swings..and the penny coin machines?) and the dancehall/pub called the Kew Boathouse which had a traditional jazz club night on Mondays for us youngsters in the late 1950's?a smart tennis court for starters!oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooAnd a private housing developement leading down to the River with private garden areas!oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooMeanwhile across the Bridge..Kew Station saddened ones pride. Wasn't a prospective MP campaigning for improvements here? oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooAnd the view from near the bus stop summed it all up. Aren't I a misery?oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooCivic Pride...where is it in Brentford?

Jim Lawes ● 6859d

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooThe resplendent Express Tavern,the 130 year old pub, comes into view..just!ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooThe Kew Bridge railway station..gateway to Kew Gardens..a World Heritage Site!!ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooto be continued!

Jim Lawes ● 6859d