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Sat 11th August ("Open House") Brentford Landmarks Day

Another date for our diaries..although I'll be away!The Brentford and Chiswick Local History Society and the Hounslow Heritage Guide seem to have organised..as before successfully..for many buildings to open their doors free of charge..though donations will be welcomed!Glad to see that the event already appears on the TW8 front page Calendar (down left side column)....as follows.  Well done and thanks for that. That Calendar column is a good one.BRENTFORD LANDMARKS DAYSATURDAY, 11 AUGUST 2007Doors Open: 11.00 amLast Entrance: 4.00 pmOpportunity to see inside some of Brentford’s landmark buildings as part ofBRENTFORD LANDMARKS WEEKENDThe following buildings will be open:**St Paul’s Church  (tours, exhibition, lunches)**St Faith’s Church  (family history, bookstall, refreshments)**St George’s Church (to be confirmed on the day) WOW..the old piano Museum!!!!!!!!** Brentford Free Church (open to visitors until 2.30 pm)**The Resource Centre (Alexandra House) opposite Fat Boys with big car park!**Brentford Library (display on Nowell Parr)  CAN WE GO UPSTAIRS???**Kew Bridge Steam Museum (free entry to THE TOWER!!)     YOU MEAN WE CAN CLIMB TO THE TOP!!     (5 feet height restriction not sure what that means)**Boston Manor House (tours at 3 pm and 4 pm) Oldest house in Brentford???  and have tea at the cafe before it closes at ..5pm?**The Toll House  Brentford Lock.. over to you Nigel! For further information about Brentford Landmarks Weekend contact:Janet McNamara 020 8560 3718000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Jim Lawes ● 6512d9 Comments

The Baptist Church is now in private hands - an individual has acquired it and has put a planning application in to convert most of it to flats with a 3 bed house at the Watermans Park end, where the new owner intends to live.It is a sympathetic redevlopment leaving most of the shell intact retaining the original features.So I don't think we'll get inside that one.

Stephen Browne ● 6510d

Thanks for the location details of the Baptist Chapel Tim.Maybe it should be open every Sunday evening!A trip to one of those apartments on the top floor of Holland Gardens could be added to the list. Views for miles I would imagine.

Jim Lawes ● 6511d

The Baptist ChapelThe cross next to the A of North Road - opposite the Travelodge :http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=51.487&lon=-0.2968&scale=5000&icon=xI think it had a For Sale Board on it for quite a time. Not sure of its current status.

Tim Henderson ● 6511d

Thanks Jim. If I am around that day I aim to attempt the great climb to the top of the Kew Bridge Steam tower, it should have a fantastic view. Also there is the Zoffany painting of 'The Last Supper' in St Paul's Church. In previous postings on 'Art and Artisits of Brentford': "... John Zoffany (1773–1810), who lived on Strand-on-the-Green painted ‘The Last Supper’, initially for St Anne’s Church on Kew Green, then it went to St Georges Church in Brentford and then to St Paul’s Church in Brentford.... The Zoffany painting of The Last Supper is still in St Paul's Church.It's in the chapel where there is the original altar..... read that in Zoffany's 'Last Supper' painting, he used his own portrait as St. Peter, and used eleven fishermen of Strand-on-the-Green as the other apostles....There's a story that Judas looked like the Church Warden at St Anne's Church, Kew Green which is why they wouldn't accept it and it went to St Georges. ...There's also a memorial there to John Macallan Swan there too. John Macallan Swan (1847–1910) was born in Brentford and gained fame as a painter of wild animals. Here's one from the Tate http://www.tate.org.uk/servlet/ViewWork?cgroupid=999999961&workid=14076&searchid=10907

Duncan Walker ● 6511d

How about the Gillette Tower...which is a few yards outside the Brentford borders?Mind you I don't think I'd make it up all those stairs..the clock tower is taller than anyone would imagine.  But other fit Forumers may have no trouble striding up and down the steps. The view from the top must be awsome.The view of the Gillette tower looked special tonight at dusk ..apologies for the bigger than usual picture!

Jim Lawes ● 6512d

Where's the Baptist Church Tim?  Yes that old School next to St George's Church is a very secretive place. can't remember the name of it ..this minute.St Lawrence's ..our oldest church building, near Brentford Bridge was open to the public some 25 years ago when it was raising Funds for its preservation by holding second-hand furniture sales and serving tea. (can't remember the cakes!)The interior was wide, tall, lofty..and you would have said.."yes, we could do something with this place"!If we gained access we might have to wear crash helmets!

Jim Lawes ● 6512d

And what does St. Lawrence's look like inside ?

Tim Henderson ● 6512d

The Old School next to the Old Musical Museum !!The Baptist Church that was up for sale/ sold.

Tim Henderson ● 6512d

Just thinking..where else?  What other building in the area,would you like to have a look around..if you had the chance?Syon Lodge..yes please!Brentford Police Station dungeons and roof top?GSK HQ on the Great West Road?Any thoughts?

Jim Lawes ● 6512d