Forum Topic

Your suggestions? A name for the Kew Bridge site.

In his August Newsletter, Matt Hamer is giving us an opportunity to suggest a name for the forthcoming "large building" being built at the gateway to Brentford..adjacent to Kew Bridge. Any thoughts?The Bridge itself was christened King Edward VII Bridge...as the name plaque at the centre of the structure says.Never hear it called that!The Plough had been a pub on the site in question for many a year as were offices for the Midland Bank back in the 1960's.There used to be the Horseferry boathouse at the river frontage there, I believe, too... and next door was Thomas Layton's old house..(Layton Cottage) just behind the Plough Pub.As Matt says, Layton's name is celebrated in several places already, Layton Lodge, Layton Road (why at that location north of the railway?).  What do you reckon?At the new Great West Quarter development, it's pleasantsight  to see that each block of apartments has been named after our past "Golden Mile" factories. There's a Trico House, Firestone House, Beecham House, Jantzen House and so on.Maybe Layton, Horseferry, Waggoner, the beached Whale, Medina Wharf, and King Edward could be incorporated in separate parts of the new Kew Bridge building.How about KGB House  (if it's going to be a concrete monstrosity!)That incorporates Kew /Gasworks / and Brentford!

Jim Lawes ● 5722d11 Comments

Salutation House. The Salutation pub was on the opposite side of the rd not far from the site.Snowball House. J. H. Snowball lived on the opposite of the road.Ashby House. William Ashby ran a lime & cement firm from Hollows Wharf.

Neil Chippendale ● 5721d

"The beached whale...what's Lawes on about?" some might be saying!!It was a 1961 event!

Jim Lawes ● 5721d

I emailed Matt as well, I'll check some of the later Kelly's.

Neil Chippendale ● 5721d

Thanks for those names Neil.So that's why there is a Tunstall Walk!Sarah Trimmer is well known historically and not surprising there is already a Trimmer Walk.Why was The Hollows so called I wonder?Audrey mentioned Anthony Jafrate's Ice Creams and Albany Road. In Kelly's 1938 Jafrate is listed there at No 19a and 21a between Wellington Place and Mount Pleasant on the south side of AR. I thought a Mount Pleasants was unique to the Post Office! (so we had one too!)Nobody seems to like KGB House! ;0)

Jim Lawes ● 5721d

Also please remember Sarah Trimmer, an important figure for Old Brentford, and there must be a lot of local memories in St.Georges too.

Robert Darke ● 5721d

Nonetheless, it bears the name "Kew Bridge" as seen from the river!

David Biles ● 5721d

And a knife and fork! (spoon for the nippers)

Steve Bullman ● 5721d

When King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra travelled down Chiswick High Road on their way to the Bridge there were crowds and parades all along the way.In the Strand on the Green School's Log Book, there is an entry for the day..noting that the School closed for the event!There is a great drawing of the event in the backroom of the Express Pub. It's worth a visit to see. What a great pub.. still serve a bag of crisps with a plate!

Jim Lawes ● 5721d

King Edward V11 bridge was named on 'The Knowledge" done by aspiring licensed London cabbies, the reason I know that is that my Dad was a cabbie for many years. You were tested regularly by the Hackney Carriage Office during the period you took to do the knowledge, and I think this was one of their little quirks - definitely it isn't officially Kew Bridge, that seems to be something that just grew up locally and stuck.

Vanessa Smith ● 5721d

Jaffrate House. The Jaffrate family who had an ice cream shop in Albany Road had an ice cream barrow there on the corner for many years. (TIC)

Audrey Walton ● 5722d

John Barnard House. Architect of the design for the first Kew Bridge.Robert Tunstall House. He came from Brentford and he  previously owned the ferry on the site.Toll House. The 2nd bridge had toll booths.Brereton House. Engineer of the 3rd bridgeWiseman House. Henry Wiseman, ‘manager to dairy’ lived at No.1 High St at the time of the 1891 census. A Dairy was on the site.

Neil Chippendale ● 5722d