Forum Topic

Brentford's Skyscrapers

The six towers on the "Haverfield Estate" dominate the skyline from many angles. There was an interesting thread on the Chiswick Forum recently..asking about the heights and the date of build etc of those skyscrapers in Green Dragon Lane and interesting mesages were posted. Did you see them? Some regard the area almost like a forbidden no go area on our doorstep..but that is unfair surely.How about the views? Anyone got any?

Jim Lawes ● 5833d28 Comments

I used to lived down the bottom of Green Dragon Lane and this is a view I remember looking up at when walking the children to school.We used to visit someone who lived on the 18th floor of this block and I was rather freaked out one day when I felt the floor moving when the wind was extremely blustery.  One of my children had to tell me about high buildings and likening them to trees, I was rather put out.  Previously I'd just thought skyscrapers were like lego bricks builds but there is a lot more to building upwards.  Most of what child said went right over my head.  Like the wind!  Nice views from that height but not somewhere where I'd like to live.  I wonder what it was like up there during  the hurricane in the late 80s?

Anya Morris ● 5814d

Copy and paste into your address bar.http://www.flickr.com/photos/finlandia_175/sets/72157622195058810/show/There are various viewing options including full screen, with or without, speed of slideshow..and a freeze button if you want to gawk!

Jim Lawes ● 5814d

jim well done you.If only the pottery could open as it was thirty years ago.

Robert A Field ● 5816d

Which is your top pub Justin?I must say that I had hitherto felt that the Haverfield Estate and the Towers were a bit of a no-go area. But my recent wanders around have changed my view and I found myself admiring ground level views..some I had never seen before.... and enjoying friendly conversations with locals. The Six Towers were clean and pleasant....and of the 100 floors I've visited..only about two seemed iffy or smelly.Many though were highly polished and well cared for...and the residents I met were charming.I now look up at the Towers as though they are friends!Anyhow, here are a couple more pictures.Maudsley House, Green Dragon LaneoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooA view of  Griffin Park in the hazy sunset.ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Jim Lawes ● 5817d

Coming from inner London I found Brentford very quiet, maybe too quiet. I have now settled into sunny suburban life and have made some good friends. There is one great pub and many good ones and we enjoy the river and the parks.

Justin Anderson ● 5819d

I wouldn't disagree Phillip, but then again there aren't many towns that you can say differently about.

Adam Beamish ● 5821d

It's strange how nice Brentford looks from above. Yet take a walk down the high street or its river paths and  its full of litter, bookies, drunks and junkies, what a shame.

Philip Walsh ● 5821d

St George’s Church tower and Kew Palace from someone’s lounge! OoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooDistillery Walk, part of the Harverfield Estate, and beyond.OooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooSome people in Brentford seemingly live “on top of the world”!

Jim Lawes ● 5822d

Jim Lawes ● 5823d

Netley Road is a pleasant approach to yonder views. Six Towers as well? Which one shall we visit?OooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooAre these places 217 foot tall did someone say? Laid on my back to take this picture. Struggled to get to my feet again!OoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooA kindly gentleman allowed me to take some picturesLet’s have a look!oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Jim Lawes ● 5823d

Huge picture:Look out for that rooftop garden at Holland Gardens!(Remember, I'm 180 feet or so up in the air!)

Jim Lawes ● 5823d

Small size:Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Jim Lawes ● 5823d

Holland Gardens revisited today in that late afternoon sunhine.  Maybe a bit hazy for photography?OooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooHolland Gardens (northside view) from on high coming up!Picture taken from the 22nd floor of one of the Towers by invitation. Many thanks to that kindly gentlemen who may shortly be visiting this website for the first time.oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooSorry about the large size pictures. Hope you can see the views easily.I’m now numbering my pictures so that I can keep track of them..under the banner “Made in Brentford”..a branded item for the future perhaps!

Jim Lawes ● 5823d

Did you see Richard Harris's picture in the Hounslow and Brentford Times today..on page 23.."Borough Views"?It's certainly a rare view taken from the top of that 195 foot Tower. At the Brentford Fayre I met an important memberof the KEW STEAM MUSEUM who me that the Tower and it's many steps was closed until some surveys had been done. Maybe the Tower will be open during the coming weekend events! Are you fit?

Jim Lawes ● 5824d

Adam,Thanks's for the advice! I must keep in touch with Stephen Browne and ask if I can visit Holland Gardens sometime and have the pleasure of seeing the views. A penthouse reception is not necessary!Being a novice at this digital camera activity,(without any technical skills) I just aim and click..sometimes with the wrong settings which is a shame!  I believe Stephen's photographic skills are far superior to mine and perhaps we can ask him for some pictures to post here.  His Holland Gardens website is most interesting. One must mention Peter Hughes's pictures of the Church interior. They are a knock out! I just love those old metal lighting fixtures at the Church..which Paul Allen's grandparents would have seen when they were married there on Christmas Day 1919. There are several buildings I have my eye on and we could visit. Not sure if I posted this view before. The Great West Road skyline from the top of Police Station Accommodation block. See the new Sky TV buildings on the left side and the Southall gasometer?

Jim Lawes ● 5824d

I work in Brentford and live in Chiswick and yes I can see the Tower blocks from where I live.

Philip Walsh ● 5824d

Jim,I should be more clued up, but I seem to recall a couple of years back the entrance to the current green space was completed (at the same time as the new Music Museum was completed) in order to ensure that the extant permission (which I'm sure is for in excess of 300 properties) for the green space didn't lapse, i.e. to ensure the development was commenced (as planning permission lapses after 3 years if the development isn't commenced).I'm sure Stephen Browne can arrange for you to come round and take some photos :)

Adam Beamish ● 5825d

I don't think Phillip lives in Holland Gardens, and he's the only one criticisng the towers as far as I can see on this thread.

Adam Beamish ● 5825d

poor offended people still i suppose having council housing on your doorstep is a pain.Still the tower blocks existed before holland gardens and nobody forced anybody to move there.

Robert A Field ● 5825d

I too remember the gas works and the towers going up.I remember a friend aged about 11, being one of the first people to move in and was at the top.He got locked in the lift several times for several hours, ended up to afraid to use the lifts and walked up or down the stair cases.One of my brothers, was some years later housed in Cornish House by the local Social services and the Council as a vulnerable person (a manic depressive with a opiate habit).He was put (illogicly!) on the side of the block that gets no sun (along with 25% of the tenants).Oh and Justin, I am sorry if you live in the towers and sorrier still that you are offended by the truth. The Brentford Tower blocks are ugly the dominate the sky line and spoil the views for miles around.Look from Kew, Strand on the green, Gunnersbury Park those ugly towers spoil the skyline and ruin the view.

Philip Walsh ● 5825d

Adam,Didn't realise that there were plans to build on that green space at the back of Holland Gardens..isn't there Water Boardequipment/ tanks below ground?It would be great to see the views from the top flats/staircase in Holland Gardens ..sometime! ;0)The Holland Gardens Community website has some unique pictures too taken from aircraft passengers flying past!Have a look. Copy and paste:http://www.hollandgardens.org/ContentImages%5CHG_Aerial_Sth_03_Large.jpg

Jim Lawes ● 5827d

my nan was one of the residents in harvey house,she loved living there and before that was in burford house before that the new brentford people and yes i can remember the gas works

Robert A Field ● 5827d

I live in the Towers and I don't appreciate your rudeness.

Justin Anderson ● 5828d

Lovely views from the top, Shame they look like S**t from down here.

Philip Walsh ● 5828d

It would be interesting to re-visit this photograph in afew years time when the development has been built on the large grassed area.You can see my flat in Holland Gardens on this photo, I don't appear to be on my balcony though ;-)

Adam Beamish ● 5832d

Albany House (foreground) looks worth a visit!

Jim Lawes ● 5832d

Not ideal weather conditions for hanging out of the window photography..but it gives you an idea of what is behind Holland Gardens.  Better pictures in the pipeline hopefully. Yours?

Jim Lawes ● 5832d

Morning Phil,Yes six towers polished off..and I must say the the place was very clean and smelt good..except for a couple of instances.I just had one dodgy looking individual with an Alsatian dogon a landing..waiting for a lift. "I don't want that rubbish" he said (not knowing what was being delivered). His front door had three big locks! Very dodgy.Lots of landings were well polished and looked cared for.Most front doors I noticed had been painted LBH mauve(Damson) and looked good.One cause for concern, which you may be able to report to Hounslow Homes or the Fire Brigade (!), was that many Fire Doors (50%)leading to the staircases were jammed open/left open. A notice on each door says it should be closed at all times.I suspect residents on each floor are fed up with the doors slamming..as they do..causing shock wave echoes in the adjacent homes. but Fire Doors are Fire Doors.Thanks for the warning about the rottweilers!! Still to do!

Jim Lawes ● 5833d

JimYou old rogue.  Did you get to leaflet the tower blocks?  They are so easy compared with the rest of the estate and you don't get savaged by rottweilers.Or have you got that bit still to do??

Phil Andrews ● 5833d

View from the top!  Apologies for picture quality..dusk was on it's way..but it gives you an idea of the views the penthouses enjoy!

Jim Lawes ● 5833d

OoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooHow high?  Was it 217 feet?  23 floors?  84 homes in each tower block..over 500 homes in total?oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Jim Lawes ● 5833d