Forum Topic

The Kew Bridge, London (!) movie.

The St George's development at Kew Bridge (Brentford!) seems to have rapidly filled the skyline. Have you seen it?One gathers that there may be further new developments along that strip of riverside.The St George website is quite pictorial..and includes this short "movie"http://www.kew-bridge.co.uk/index.cfm?articleID=46

Jim Lawes ● 5473d21 Comments

This poor chap must have run out of food...but his arrival on the banks of the Thames at Kew  in 1961 is a fisherman's talethat's truthful!

Jim Lawes ● 5465d

The large picture hanging in the Express Pub shows the Bridge and roadway and crowds.That "pink" picture from the Sphere Magazine is something separate..from my archives..downloaded from cyberspace some years back.

Jim Lawes ● 5465d

In the centre of the Bridge David..on the east side and facing the pavement...there is a plaque commemorating the opening of the "King Edward VII Bridge" by His Majesty.Not far away on the granite walls are scars left by the shapnel of a small bomb dropped there during WW2! This is a subject we have discussion on the local Forums in the past.On a visit to Strand on the Green School a couple of years back, the Headmaster of the Infant School showed me the School Log Book for those Edwardian years..and there listed under the appropriate date was an entry which said that the whole School took the day off to see the King and Queen parade down the High Road through Chiswick on their way to the Opening..cheered on by thousands of locals.There is a glorious illustration of the Opening Event hanging on the walls of The Express Pub lounge bar.

Jim Lawes ● 5465d

Jim, try as I may, I can't find a reference to Kew Bridge being called King Edward VII Bridge.  Certainly it was opened by him and the Queen in 1903, but the name on the bridge as seen from the water is Kew Bridge on both sides (must check the plaque at the centre).  Did it change at some time?  Do older maps show it as King Edward VII Bridge?

David Biles ● 5465d

Jim Lawes ● 5466d

You're right Kevin, the Boathouse Pub was on the other side of the river with the notorious dance floor and bars. And the  permanent fairground alongside the Bridge with it's penny slot machines and big swings and Carousel.  Yes, it wa rough on the Surrey side! Monday nights was the Trad Jazz Club upstairs where I remember seeing such bands as Dick Charlesworth.On the Brentford side was the posh (rowing club) Boathouse.

Jim Lawes ● 5468d

Not 100% sure Jim but I think that the notorious 'Boathouse' was on the Surrey side of the river!

Kevin Farnan ● 5468d

http://www.web40571.clarahost.co.uk/index.htmAll credit to this Paul Lewis website. If you hunt around it there are some special special pictures of this Kew Bridge area..and of it's history.

Jim Lawes ● 5468d

From the Paul Lewis website..this fab drawing is of the old Boathouse. It was on the Brentford side..where the St Georges development now is. I believe it was called the Horseferry Boathouse.

Jim Lawes ● 5468d

"Welcome to Brentford" and directions to Hounslow will readily come into view as residents depart their glamorous homes.Here is Thomas Novak's picture on flickr taken in 2006.

Jim Lawes ● 5470d

As I posted on CW4 the other day, it would make absolutely no logical sense to refer to the development as Brentford just because it's within the Brentford postal code district.  It's on the junction of Kew Bridge Road and Kew Bridge, it's 100 metres from Kew Bridge station etc.  Even the road sign on the A315 at the junction says Brentford is 1/2 mile away.Of course they could have said it was on the doorstep of Richmond, Chiswick, Strand on the Green and Brentford, but remembering that we're talking about a marketing/sales campaign it also makes no business sense to refer to Brentford.  Mixing with the chavs in Morrisons isn't exactly particularly appealing to potential occupiers ;-)

Adam Beamish ● 5470d

Great when you get on their site!''Kew Bridge: 300 Years in the MakingMiddlesex and Surrey have been linked by a river crossing as long ago as Roman times, but it was not until 1759 that the first Kew Bridge was built. The advantages of a bridge on the main road to Oxford were so great that it was rebuilt in stone in 1789.''OXFORD??''Welcome to Kew Bridge - Luxury Apartments & Penthouses on London's RiversideSituated on London's breathtaking riverside and on the doorstep of Richmond, Chiswick and Strand on the Green, this is a collection of exclusive 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments and penthouses by St George. Set around a European style public piazza and overlooking the Thames, Kew Bridge will provide a new public realm and a stunning riverside landmark.''No chance of any mention about Brentford where it's situated!

Kevin Farnan ● 5470d

Thanks for that Jim.The building being constructed at the forefront..clearly seen in your picture...is going to be a temporary structure I understand. It will become the new Marketing Suite..the present one being located in one of the Arches and accessed from the Strand on the Green side.The Sales Team mentioned that the structure will be flattened after two years and become a open public piazza...with the pub adjoining. That should a big bonus for us all. The views from his new marketing suite should afford spectatular views and aid future sales.Won't the whole development create a buzz in the area? It will remind oldies of the times in years gone by when elegant rowing boats could be hired from the Surrey Bank and happy visitors embarked..watched by many.. Behind, on that Surrey side and adjacent to the Bridge, was a permanent Fairground with a Carousel and the Boathouse Pubwith dance floors and jazz clubs.

Jim Lawes ● 5471d

Taken yesterday:http://www.flickr.com/photos/brighton/5606757396/#/photos/brighton/5606757396/lightbox/JL

Jim Linwood ● 5471d

picture by Glenn Mason (australia?)

Jim Lawes ● 5472d

Jim Lawes ● 5472d

Another picture of the model on display at the Marketing Suite..accessed under the Arches of the Bridge.. Strand on the Green side.Enjoy..and note the planned shopping parade.

Jim Lawes ● 5472d

There is a similar but different thread already on ChiswickW4.  75% of the first Phase released has already been sold including the best penthouse at £2m. Sorry you're late again!Being a Brentford TW8 location, the good news is that there will an additional pub to add to Brentford's list..as that lower building at the front..nearest the Thames is likely to be Fullers drinking house.Mention my name if you buy!

Jim Lawes ● 5472d

Great view!Must start saving for the deposit!A lot of us went to Strand on the Green School in the old days..so we are local and qualify for a discount!

Jim Lawes ● 5473d

Noted Jim..  Should we be puzzled that the Marketing Suite for the new development,located under the bridge arches, has an address "Strand on the Green, W4"! I wonder which side the King Edward VII Bridge (east or west) is used as the front door of the Suite.We know that the new development is firmly in Brentford ...as is a major slice of the Bridge but let not that curtail the wild excesses of the advertising lads/lasses! We know better!Future occupants of the new residence will find themselves in the Brentford Ward at Election time ..with their polling station somewhere up North Street.Nonetheless, it's a great location and I only wish I could afford the penthouse and enjoy the local walks and hostelries..not least The Express (firmly in Brentford).

Jim Lawes ● 5473d

The film carefully avoids showing the rundown Kew Bridge Station building and the high rise flats in Green Dragon Lane.

Jim Linwood ● 5473d