Forum Topic

Inverness Lodge

On Saturday 8th December the Inverness Lodge Social Club are hosting an open evening whereby we are inviting old & potential new members to pop down & have a drink or two.We are inviting old members who have maybe let their membership lapse for whatever reason to revisit the club, meet old friends, see how the club is doing nowadays & hopefully rejoin in the New Year.As for newcomers who have never used the club before, you will be most welcome to pop along & have a chat with other members/committee & find out what we do behind those CLOSED DOORS!As usual for a Saturday night there will be some form of entertainment consisting of either a disco/karaoke/live music etc & some form of free buffet laid on.The usual entrance fee will be waived on this night so another reason to come along & have good night!For those who don't know where we are the address is 9, Boston Manor Road, Brentford ( Next door to Brentford library).On behalf of all at the club we hope to see you on the 8th.

Kevin Farnan ● 6450d12 Comments

Kevin and SarahThanks for your replies and hospitality.  My eyeballs are safely back in place..and are eager for the next adventure!The Inverness Lodge is obviously a Brentford property of historic significance..and present day worthiness and that should be acknowledged by Brentfordians as they pass by..or enter the present day social club.See you in the new year..and I'll remember to ask for the  application form!

Jim Lawes ● 6432d

Jim - Thank you very much for your kind words. I am glad you enjoyed the evening and hope you will visit again soon. If you would like to have a better look around the club please ring or e mail me. As requested I will send you a scanned copy of the club picture above the bar soon.

Sarah Porter ● 6433d

Glad to hear that you had a good night Jim, hope that your eyeballs are now back in their sockets after watching all those dancers!Sorry that I missed some people but I left earlier than normal so as to get up during the night to watch the Ricky Hatton fight.Hopefully we'll see some of the ex members rejoining the club in the New Year along with some newcomers.

Kevin Farnan ● 6436d

I had a most enjoyable visit to the Inverness Lodge Club in Boston Manor Road last night..and the interior sight was most atmospheric and pleasing. I returned home knowing it had been a really good evening out.Easing my way to the attractive bar..rows and rows of booze..clean and polished shelving..pretty barmaids..tasteful Christmas decorations..and busy with Brentfordian characters and lasses..I wondered why I hadn't visited since the fairly recent Brentford Farmer's Market days.I didn't recognise anybody and wondered if any of the tough looking hardcore guys were the Forum's Mark Welland!! ;0)Soon, I took a small table for myself near the dance floor with my pint of John Smith's, crisps..and hey..nearby was a table piled with buffet sandwiches!!My eye's alternated between the beautifully plastered ceiling above and the sight of leggy, bosomy girls getting slowly plastered below! The gyrating ladies were enjoying themselves..and so was I! It's a great ballroom. Second or third only in Brentford maybe to Syon Park and Syon Lodge (?). The DJ's lighting and the splendid Christmas decorations put up by John and othersmade the Inverness Lodge Club look ...er..stonkingly good!!Then the beautiful Sarah arrived at my table. She apologied that Kevin had left earlier..but her friendly conversation and attention made the evening for me.  She filled me in on the what's what at this Social Club and the building..and we even danced to round off my visit ;0).Dancing in an attractive Brentford ballroom..with all those attractive local,leggy ladies.. I'll just have to tell my kids!Thanks Sarah and husband Richard, who seem to have instigated so many good changes and worked so hard at the Club..with a happier cleansed membership, upgraded furniture, and big smiles all round.John and Sarah were telling me about the many ghosts and a watering well or was it a tunnel! Save that for another time!Kevin: Thanks for the invite. Apologies from Mrs Felstead and Mr Fisher!!

Jim Lawes ● 6439d

Sounds good Jim,I will e-mail you or phone you to confirm.

Paul Fisher ● 6441d

Anyone up for a pint or two at 7pm?

Jim Lawes ● 6441d

Thanks for that interesting reply Kevin..and I'll certainly take up your kind offer.In my view the "INVERNESS" name is most attractive, being another of my favourite regions in Scotland.  With the MacTavish Clan just down the road (see Chiswick Forum),and the road to Ullapool nearby, the new City and name of Inverness has a lot going for it.I wonder why The Logde was so named?Hadn't realised that it had previously been a British Legion  Club venue.  Maybe a couple of others are free to join the trip..or to visit Saturday evening.

Jim Lawes ● 6445d

Sarah, Jim, From what I know the Inverness Lodge was indeed built around the 1820's or 30's as a residential home for a well to do family.So the story goes the owner lived here with his wife & two daughters who's heads/faces are moulded into the very ornate ceiling/plaster coving which we are in the process of renovating/decorating at the moment. This hopefully will be completed by this weekend so it would be a great opportunity for yourself or others to pop in & take a photo or two & post on the site.Not sure on the history between being a residential home & then becoming the home of the Brentford British Legion who subsequently passed it over to become a private members social club to be run by a named committee & live in steward.Unfortunately due to falling membership/sales over the past few years we have had to let the steward go & run the club ourselves which we have managed to do very successfully.If this weekend is not suitable you are most welcome to pop in another time & mention my name or speak to one of the other committee members. I should be in there this Saturday most probably late afternoon/early evening. If you do pop down let me know & don't forget that camera!Remind me to show you the memorial board dedicated with the names of 'The Old Contemptibles' on the first floor which is usually closed to the public.

Kevin Farnan ● 6446d

It would be good to have a reply from the boys or their mates wouldn't it Sarah?I mean, we all pass the place regularly and it would be interesting to know something about the place.  If the bar and ballroom is downstairs..what is all the upstairs used for on wonders?  Private accommodation?, offices?, masonic LODGE rooms?,..who knows?Pictures and descriptions would be of interest..and help keep the TW8 Forum alive.Who owns the place I wonder? Is it leased from the Council?Knock,knock.

Jim Lawes ● 6446d

Thanks for the invitation...and the date is noted.Sarah, I suggest, should take her dancing shoes along as there is evidence of a fine ballroom with an elegant ceiling etc.Oh for the exterior of the building to be restored to a former glory...Boston Manor Road is a smashing road, with buildings worth conserving all aong. In your mind just think of all the interesting places on that road all the way to Boston Manor Station.Regarding the history of the Inverness Lodge, there are references to it on the Internet...in this case giving help to those needing mental care.---------------------------------------------------------""Hunter and McAlpine say that Robert Gardiner Hill was joint proprietor of three London houses: Wyke House, Earls Court House  and Inverness Lodge, Brentford Middlesex. I could not find Inverness Lodge listed as an asylum. However, Dr Hill of Inverness Lodge, Brentford examined Rosina Bulwer-Lytton on 21.6.1858 and she was confined at Inverness Lodge for about two weeks in July, being released on 17th July (See Timeline) and a letter survives from Robert Gardiner Hill to Rosina's husband, written from Inverness Lodge in 1858. Rosina described it as "a very fine house in fine grounds which had formerly belonged to the Duke of Cumberland". From her carriage window, when she arrived, she saw about 50 ladies walking in the grounds who were the patients, but who Mr Hill called his "children". They were "picking strawberries". "Mr H--- sent all his 'children' to his other madhouse  farther on the road, so that I had the Palladian Villa all to myself". Rosina also says "after my departure", due to "public indignation" "Brentford became to hot for him, and he removed to London". (Bulwer Lytton, R. 1880 pages 36, 37 + 55) A John Tattersall took a 21 year lease on Inverness Lodge, Boston Road, Brentford Butts, Ealing from 25.3.1862. Near the junction of Boston Manor Road and Windmill Road there is now Inverness Lodge Social Club Ltd, 9 Boston Manor Road, Brentford, TW8 8DW.""--------------------------------------------------------Did you see that line about Brentford being too hot for someone!!

Jim Lawes ● 6449d

Thanks for the invite Kevin,are the price of drinks cheaper than normal in The Inverness?I must say its years since Ive been in there are children welcome?

Mark Welland ● 6450d

What is the history of the Inverness club, Kevin? :-)

Sarah Felstead ● 6450d