Forum Topic

Thanks for moving to Brentford

Today a small but dedicated team of Holland Gardens residents (including yours truly) cleaned up the excessive weeds that had been allowed to grow in the front of St Georges Church opposite Waterman's Park. This also included painting over graffiti on one of the boroughs listed buildings, the Sarah Trimmer Hall.Now I wouldn't normally bang my own drum on something like this but it was much to our surprise whilst we were going about the cleanup, the previous tenant of some 40 years walked down the street from his new premises (paid for in part by Section 106 contributions from our development) and duly informed us we were wasting our time and the church should be demolished.How diverse is the society we live in that has a group of new Brentford residents with no ownership, no remuneration and not seeking gratification spending their own time making a local landscape building look presentable, being berated by an ex-tenant who paid a pittance to use the building for for nigh on half a century.Welcome to Brentford. Sod the local history, demolish the lot!

Stephen Browne ● 6776d21 Comments

Stephen,You might win a prize with this picture. I've sent it into cyberspace!!ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooWhen we next meet up..I'll explain the simple technology and then you can easily do the necessary. Do you have a laptop?

Jim Lawes ● 6768d

Thanks Jim for your kind words and as usual, an excellent supply of images. If I could ever figure out how to put them up I would, but in the meantime have resorted to putting before and after images up on our own web site.I think you might find the 'before' images quite interesting - it only took us a few hours to tidy it up, but how much neglect got it into the 'Before' state?http://www.hollandgardens.org/news_detail.cfm?ID=252

Stephen Browne ● 6768d

This was seen somewhere in cyberspace..on Stephen's website perhaps.Notice the lanterns outside the church ..and metal supports for them are still in place. What about that funny window above the door..window?...------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Oh for a chance to take some photos inside!

Jim Lawes ● 6772d

I'n not decrying the spit and sawdust but when I went in too the pub a few weeks ago it was dirty and run down. All I would like to see is Fullers do some basic work on the outside and a tidy up inside. It's good that we still have this kind of pub.Its the same with the Magpie, it needs a bush up.

Neil Chippendale ● 6773d

Hi NeilWhy in this modern day do we expect everything to be mock old interiors, with shiny brass minutiae, dark oak timbers, deep red carpets, plush armchairs, evocative pictures, ales with country sounding names?  There was a term "spit and sawdust" which was applied to drinking establishments.  The Six Bells originated as a pub when the Dock was busy.  When working men did a hard days work and were thirsty.

Michael Fletcher ● 6773d

Good shots !And I wonder what work the children produced that supported the running of the school  ?Any lessons to be learned from that for current school practice ?

Tim Henderson ● 6774d

"Dirty, shabby, unkempt"Sorry but I agree with this statement. I presume Fullers are not interested in putting any money into the pub which is a shame a Jim's photo showed it could be a real historical feature.

Neil Chippendale ● 6774d

StephenWhat an improvement you and your team have made to the area surrounding St George's Church and the Church School. Well done. The outdoor area there looks much improved and cared for. One less eyesore in Brentford for sure!Could I thank you for moving to Brentford..and for helping to stirr the porridge! Here are some pictures taken this afternoon to commemorate your activity. Let's start with the Church doorway which shows some historical wear on the doorstep! -----------------------------------------------The eastern side of the Church...very tidy now and looks cared for! As you know Brentford has hundreds of eyesores! The locals must love them for the general lack of effort they make to tidy the place up!!-----------------------------------------------So, what is inside that old Church School? Perhaps we can get access and take some snaps. Did we read somewhere that the old Piano Museum used to store things in there?------------------------------------------------So when that Church School was built..there were no trams or trolleybuses..only horses and carts and stage coaches passing by. The Canal didn't exist and Queen Victoria's reign was still 50 years away. No Church tower..or Church ..and now how do some Brentfordians look after it??...graffiti mate!!--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Look at it today..spick and spam. Thank you Stephen and friends.

Jim Lawes ● 6774d

The outside may look OK, but the inside is a bit naff.

Anthony OBrien ● 6774d

What is known as a LRF - low resolution fox.

The Pseudometer ● 6774d

Demolish?The interior ground floor might need an uplift..I have been there..but from the from the Canal it looks fine!

Jim Lawes ● 6774d

Hi ColinThe Six Bells seems attractive to me:-http://www.ealing-web.com/brentford/6bellssm.jpghttp://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/23/Six-Bells/Brentford

Michael Fletcher ● 6774d

Dirty, shabby, unkempt...will that do?

The Pseudometer ● 6774d

Anthony wrote:"The Six Bells definitly needs pulling down any offers on that one."Neil wrote: "the Six Bells at present it does look a mess but with some investment I believe it could be turned into a great building as it certainly has some historic potential."Can you two rather discriminating gentlemen elaborate on what you mean by "looking a mess"?Can yo

Michael Fletcher ● 6774d

"The Six Bells at present it does look a mess but with some investment I believe it could be turned into a great building as it certainly has some historic potential."Were the landlords Mick & Joyce there when the pub was built?

Anthony OBrien ● 6774d

StephenThanks to you and your group for working on tidying up Trimmers Hall and the church. With people such as yourselves Brentford can be a great mix of new modern buildings while retaining some of its past.Re the Six Bells at present it does look a mess but with some investment I believe it could be turned into a great building as it certainly has some historic potential.

Neil Chippendale ● 6775d

Who are the  current owners ? (though I can't see them objecting too much to a tidy-up of the grounds)Interesting to see that the derelictlondon page also included Isleworth Cemetery. The decisions page of last weeks Area Planning Meeting says that they approved the proposal to consult on extending the Isleworth Conservation Area to include the cemetery. All those in favour say aye.

Tim Henderson ● 6775d

Apologies for the there's /theirs spelling error..and any others!Once upon a time a Formum poster reported that his distant relatives have been involved in the part rebuilding of St Lawrences many many years ago..and he directed us to a website..which had a few pictures and text. I've reproduced them here:http://www.derelictlondon.com/cemetery.htmBuilt in the 15th century and is Grade II listed. The main part of the church was erected in 1764 with latter additions. The church has been unused since 1979. Recently £25,000 has been spent on "securing" the church towerThe site is now on sale for £1.5 million.There is a condition in the original sale by the London Diocesan Fund, that the future use of the buildings and the land be for the purpose of a restaurant or theatre with public car parking to the rear. There is an order subsequently granted by the Home Office  of the Pastural Measure Act 1983 that dispenses with the need to remove human remains from the site on the understanding that future use will not disturb those remains.bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbSome twenty years ago I recall going inside St lawrences Church when there were plans to use it as a theatre, cafe etc..and on the occasion I called in..it was full of second hand furniture for sale. (Brentford nargains galore no doubt).The ceiling was memorable..and the general WOW! factor..and no doubt everyone at the timne and since has been cratching their heads to explore what could be done with the place.If it was open for the day..we'd probably need to wear hard hats too!. But the grounds ought to be cleared up and made to look good..so please add to to your list of possible helpers. It's a good idea to give that area a facelift.

Jim Lawes ● 6775d

StephenI can imagine how you have been feeling since hearing that perhaps tactless comment from the gentleman at the helm of the New Musical Museum..made whilst you and your friends were busy tidying up the area around dear old St Georges Church.  Just wait till the fanfare happens next year and next door to you when the new building opens!  Best to go on holiday perhaps!.But surely you will be invited to the ceremony!  My sympathies anyhow.I do remember Frank Holland who was the very dedicated curator of the Piano Museum in earlier times..and indeed I recall attending a church service there back in the 1950's with the gas lighting and dark shadows. It was very atmospheric..being the building it was.  I also recall last year..much more recently.. the young chap who I believe lived and slept there to oversee the Piano Museum Collection and I remember asking him if he was sad to be leaving the church building and he said "No" to my surprise. It fact it was on the last day..before closure.  Perhaps they found the cracks in the wall(s),the eerieness, the cold and the bleakness something they were glad to get away from..and now, being more comfortable whilst furnishing the sorting out the new place..just feel that your interest on the old Church..is not compatible with there's at this time.Your cleaning up campaign was good for the Community..and is an excellent way to met local folk as you will know. Well organised. I have information about St Lawrences Church in the next message.

Jim Lawes ● 6775d

Thanks Anthony, I'm well aware of that one. Being listed it affords a higher level of default respect, regardless whether the apparent attractive decorations within will ever be seen again. The last I recall on it was it received £75,000 public funding to rejuvenate the internal decorations.Then it was flogged a couple of years back under much promise of finally becoming a restaurant or similar. At least then we may have all had the opportunity to enjoy it. The latest is the new owners can't be found with a view they might actually do something with it, inclusive of cleaning up the burial ground.I have no doubt given access we would be willing to clean that one up as well. At least when we were doing it we wouldn't have some ungrateful recipient of far too much public funding giving us grief at the same time.If you would be happy to arrange a date and time let us know and we'll be there.

Stephen Browne ● 6776d

If you want some more clean up jobs there is an old church at the other end of Brentford High street that is all overgrown and looks a mess, but anyway thank you for your efforts in trying to make the town a better place to live.P.S. The Six Bells definitly needs pulling down any offers on that one.

Anthony OBrien ● 6776d