Forum Topic

Lateward Rd, Grosvenor Rd Brentford

We are looking for a house to buy in one of these two roads.Ideally a 3 bed, but would consider 2, if could convert loft.If anyone knows any one selling, or if you wish to sell, please get in touch by DM. Ideally we are looking for a tenant-buyer arrangement, Also known as rent to buy. Lots of estate agents are now considering this option as the market is sluggish. If you are an estate agent that offers this in the area we would also love to hear from you!Serious Buyers. Ready to go!Thanks

J Lawrenson ● 4855d30 Comments

Great picture Jim. Interesting to see what used to be the old railway sidings in Layton Road which was the old coal depot.

Kevin Farnan ● 4818d

Typical, take my mind of the Forum as been busy with the Jubilee.  We just let a property in Grosvenor Road, with a loft conversion who may want to sell in a year or so.

Julia Quilliam ● 4818d

Thanks for that helpful information Kevin about the Cricket Ground....which must have come under pressure when the Great West Road was being built in the 1920s etc.Here's a map (1894) showing the location again.

Jim Lawes ● 4823d

Jim, even though Brentford FC left in 1904 it was still used as a cricket ground until at least 1932. There's a small picture on page 25 of '100 Years of Griffin Park' showing a cricket match between Brentford & Arsenal (sorry no scanner). Sometime after this the area was redeveloped for industrial use.

Kevin Farnan ● 4827d

Reading many of the messages on this site makes me glad to see that the Spirit of old Brentford lives on in so many.When my part of Brentford was demolished in the 60's I thought the spirit had gone with all the families who moved out of the area.Many of those names I remember...Collins,Christmas,Webberly,Jafrate,Dacombe,Simioni,Venables,Burridge,Salmond,Hutchison..and so many more.One thing I have always been curious about..Braemar Road!!In my days most Brentford people referred to it as Bra-mer Road and not as Bray-mar Road..even today some older residents still call it by the old way.Curious!!

Alfred Winkworth ● 4827d

Yes, Brentford has a deep history and was a proper town with a very close community with rivalries some fragments of which remain between some of the older families all based on who you worked for and all marked out by the plethora of pubs yet knitted together by it's football club .It's a shame that the place became a casualty of well intentioned but disasterous social engineering and housing projects of the late 1950 & 60's.What's really a shame is that 60 years on and what has been learned is still not put into practice. Over dense developments, lack of parking, poor facilities if any and messing with society are all playthings for politicians of any side. In fact, since the creation of Hounslow Borough, housing has been a right mess in terms of design and quality, much of it down to interference and the intellectual desires of architects who would not be seen dead living in such developments.This same borough stil has no regard for Brentford's history. Too happy to bunk up with scurrilous developers with dressed up developments much the same as what has already gone up and a big bag of sweets - which don't last.Where's the fast train to Waterloo, the best thing from the GSK development and the only fast link to the city possible.Even the little things are not valued. Hounslows conservation and planners gave not a jot about the La Teward enscribed gateposts not just being removed at the end of Grosvenor road but smashed recently.I thinks it's time we had a Civic Society formed here in Brentford, like Ealing has. A hugely influential watchdog on the antics of council planning and thus guardians of conservation areas. Non political and as ready to give credit where due and highlight the damage being planned or inflicted.

Anthony Waller ● 4827d

All fascinating stuff, I know of all localities, Brentford has the widest ranging of histories and all fairly well documented but even after all these years something new gets revealed. A shame more was not done to protect it. And my goodness those 'slums' they pulled down were well intended but what horrors they put up to replace.Interesting that the remaining 'slums not fit for humans' are now  nearly £400,000 a piece. Pure vindication of how badly social engineering and planners got things wrong.

Michael Brandt ● 4827d

Thanks for that Boston Manor Cricket information Kevin.. with dates too... that's really useful to know.So many old maps of that area incorrectly show that Cricket Ground...when indeed it has long gone. They obvously haven't updated their records..or they copy other people's erroneous maps!Yes, Alfa Laval were on the site in recent times..and before them at some stage "Bernards Radio Ltd" according to Kelly's 1939 directory.Returning to the thread title, so many areas are changing in a "rotten" way...but at least in Latewood Road and Grosvenor Road the frontages of the buildings look as they did perhaps 80 years ago. The small front gardens haven't been concreted over to park a car (no room!) or a van..and some of the houses in Lateward still have the old Victorian/Edwardian door furniture letterboxes which enable the leaflets or newspapers to slide in so easily!!Up in Osterley, where I lived for over 40 years..the incomers knocked the houses down and built bulbous monstrosities with security gates to keep nosey neighbours and passers-by at bay!  So the heart of Brentford hasn't suffered like that.. yet!I was surprised when delivering Election leaflets on the Great West Quarter estate...adjoining Ealing Road.. that the incomers there (from places like Shepherds Bush etc) had no idea why their block of smart Housing Trust apartments were called "Firestone House" or "Sperry House" and that did jar. Of course I told them! Nonetheless, I feel that Brentford is still very special...full of interesting areas and places...and most of all there are lots and lots of fab people in town.I met several thousands of lovely Brentfordians when I was stationed at Morrisons (last November) for dozens of hours for the British Legion Poppy Appeal collections.  The smiles and chatter were as rewarding as hearing the tins vibrate with the sound of donations. Of course there were a few known scalleywags around.. but a whole mass of real people.But I understand how some of you feel. Your descriptive messages were telling.

Jim Lawes ● 4827d

Thanks for the map Jim..looking at it I can remember what all those roads were like..but I cannot remember a cricket ground on the corner of Ealing Road and Great West Road..seems to me there was a factory like Alfa Lavalls.

Alfred Winkworth ● 4828d

Jim, it used to be a cricket ground known as 'The Boston Park Cricket Ground'. It was home to Brentford Football Club between Sep 1900 & Apr 1904  being the last of their many grounds before finally moving to their permanent home of Griffin Park.

Kevin Farnan ● 4828d

A 1960s Map shows how things were!(Error? No sports ground was ever on the corner of Ealing Road/GWR surely)

Jim Lawes ● 4828d

Yes,the football team was called Harnage Celtic..I had a couple of games with them and of course I knew Sid Sheppard very well.He worked in a grocery shop called Clayponds Stores.I had to shop there on Saturday mornings for Mum before having to go to the Gas Works to get coke in an old pram.Even now I still remember THAT smell of the Gas Works.

Alfred Winkworth ● 4830d

Oh, Yes! My grandad was good friends with Jacky Chapman & although that is before my time I have heard all about him! Amazing! he played darts and ran a football team, (my uncle Don Pilgrim & grandad Stan Burwood were both in it! & I think Frankie Ovens, Sid Sheppard, Bates twins..many more - my nan tells me stories all the time about those days & being a local historian, I love to hear them!)  He was also a great artist and we have some of his paintings too! My nan is still in touch with his wife Thelma. In those days it seemed Brentford had a proper community spirit and everybody knew each other. It's still the same for the old folks there now (i cant walk down the street with my nan without her bumping into someone she knows & then hearing how she knows them & more tales of old!) The younger lot, especially the ones moving in there now have no idea of a strong community. I really want to move back even though I am only up the road in W4, but I cant afford it!! A real shame.

J Lawrenson ● 4830d

Yes some of those names ring a bell..especially Joyce and Pilgrim.In Harnage I remember Rose Collins and family and there was also one..Jacky Chapman.An amazing man who was without arms.In those days many hours were spent in the parks..Carville Hall and Gunnersbury..and of course the dear old"Bug Hutch" cinema (The Queens Hall).Memories of Brentford..never to be forgotten.

Alfred Winkworth ● 4830d

It is sad Alfred. My family all came out of those roads; maybe you know some of them? Family names of Joyce, Pilgrim, Burwood, Delieu, Baker..? Most, sadly gone now but my nan is still in Brentford. Lovely to hear from old residents.

J Lawrenson ● 4830d

Having read this and other similar messages it really saddens me to see such changes to the Brentford that I remember.I lived in Bedford Road (the one next to the old Harnage Road) from 1940 till 1962 and then of course that area was demolished a few years later to make way...for what??Even though I now live on the south coast I try to get to visit my beloved hometown as often as possible and just walk the old familiar streets...and of course to watch the Bees.My best wishes to all you people who love Brentford as much as me.

Alfred Winkworth ● 4830d

It seems a shame that Brentford is going the same way as Chiswick, going by posts on here.When it was the Borough of Brentford and Chiswick, both places were of the same social mix with industries on your doorstep to provide full employment for all, The biggest employers were on the Great West Road, which many Chiswick residents relied on for employment. Both places had a lot of river related industries, and many residents of Strand on the Green would be horrified with sharing their area with noisy factories and barges being riveted on the Thames, even a road off of Thames Road had to be renamed because of the problems they had in the road.  My recollection (stand to be corrected) is when many of my friends who lived around the roads, such as Fishers Lane and roads, (now known as the Glebe Estate), were moved out to the new fantastic accommodation know as the Haverfield Estate.This seems to me the start of the rot, which changed Chiswick into the place it is toady, and now seems to be repeating itself in the Brentford area.Good luck with your house hunting     

Paul Allen ● 4853d

That's a shame as so many ordinary hard working local people have been forced out and the real kick in the teeth is the way outsiders are given priority and moved in.  That has gone on for way too long and it's hardly a surprise when local services begin to suffer from demand with too much being taken out and not enough been put in.I noticed on friends reunited that just a handful of the 75 members of my year still live locally, many have emigrated but most have been successful but not successful enough to stal local so have moved right out.With that goes the cohesive community and almost to the degree that those who remain are ostracised in their own envirions.  The damage is done now but theres no sign of any attempt to put things right.

Michael Brandt ● 4854d

..And alas, no benefits or a trust fund for us! Just good hard working people!!

J Lawrenson ● 4854d

I wish I'd bought here years ago! Didn't foresee the huge rise in property prices unfortunately and during late teens and twenties it just wasn't important to me. Not until I had kids of my own did I think of buying, but by then everything was way too too expensive. We stupidly waited thinking prices HAD to come down! Alas, we all know the opposite has happened! So we have been priced out of ever buying, by the looks of things..Nowadays we can afford a good rent (therefore cover the mortgage payments) but no way can we save the £80k deposit, while renting and living and with 2 kids. It's impossible. I was really hoping that someone out there who was selling would like to do us a kind of favour by giving us the tennant/buyer option, but as you quite rightly said, a lot are probably not originally from the area and just want to make a lot of profit quickly. Such a shame as my whole family on both sides are Brentford born and bred. And that goes back many years. I have a great, great, great, grandma who lived in the potteries in the 1790's!My grandparents came out of Harnage Rd when they knocked it down (another scandal in my eyes) to make way for the estate. My nan was born in a house in Mafeking ave and all my family still live in Brentford. They have never moved away, and been loyal to the area and I can't even get in!! It just makes me mad in a way... Oh well.. Rant over!

J Lawrenson ● 4854d

I grew up in South Ealing and went to school in Brentford, Could not afford ealing and bought my first home in Brentford. It's been the best thing I did mprimarily because of the brilliant social mix and genuine community. Something I did not expect. I am really saddened that it is now in a state of meltdown.  The older people here are a great lot but are fading away now.A shame as you sound just like the sort who would make the place as good as it has been.Te only wat alas is if you have a few bob in the bank or are on benefits and are a housing priority.

Michael Brandt ● 4854d

I think it is bad that on one hand we have the council dumping loads of people on Brentford trying to destroy its intact long established mixed community which is envied by others in "the name of Community' whilst at the same time the real locals in the middle are being forced out at both ends.I resent the arrival of social snobs as much as the social pariahs but why is it that those who work their nuts off to achieve something without taking a penny in handouts or a silver spoon get such a rubbish deal?

Anthony Waller ● 4854d

I agree!We are both young parents/professionals who have worked hard and scrimped to try to better our standard of living. And still its tough! I grew up around here, and the whole area was full of working class people who had the same outlook. I find it sad that old Brentford people are pushed away into other areas for the sake of money.We would love to move 'home' but in this era of high deposits for the most basic of houses, which, lets face it even ten years ago were becoming un-affordable to most, we are stuck renting, paying over the odds for an area 1 mile up the road from where we really want to be. I love Brentford, for all its faults and the people too.. I do believe that it is probably the last place left in London with some sense of community now that similar things have happened in the East End. I just hope that Brentford can cling to its heritage and never change that much!

J Lawrenson ● 4854d

Oh, that's a real shame. I am very sad to hear this as we have the same here in W4.. I dont know any neighbours except to say hello to..that's how far it goes. I have invited some in and told them to knock anytime if the kids want to play, but never been taken up on it. It's such a shame. My parents know everyone in their road (The Butts) and they have a lot of community things going on, and dinners ect..I was really hoping for a similar lifestyle! I will still be looking as I'm sure it's not as bad as Chiswick (YET) and I do know some older residents in the street, but I do agree that they have inflated the house prices around here to match Chiswick/Kew/Fulham.. It is quite ridiculous as like you say, they are not big houses. I have even seen this road in the past in estate agents windows labelled as Chiswick!! This makes me mad, as it's not or will ever be Chiswick!Thankyou for taking time to reply. I will still be looking though as I want to be closer to family. Jane

J Lawrenson ● 4854d

I have to agree with you Mike, It's not much different in Lateward, it's still fairly good but it seems to be changing for the worse. Some of the new arrivals are quite wealthy and have been gifted homes by parents or huge incomes which is nice if you are that fortunate but it does upset the balance a bit. We can't convert our loft as the conservation restrictions would make it too small and pointless but at the same time the conservation thing is a good thing as more than a few would want to overdevelop their homes for a fast profit and muck the place up.We already know of a few who jump the gun and build before planning approval causing huge problems for neighbours.It's a shame, why do well educated thirtysomethings (I'm only 38) have such difficulty in communicating and mixing?  It is noticeable that those who scrimp and save to move here are much friendlier people and far more community minded.

Anthony Waller ● 4854d

Grosvenor road is not what it was, It's rapidly turning into a Chiswick type street.  You can tell by the Chiswick/Fulham set uniform of trendy window shutters.The street until very recently used to be exceptionally friendly with a great community of mixed people. Sadly, several properties changed hands over a short time it has all but vanished. It has become very closed, almost snobbish. Newer residents just don't seem to want to mix. In fact, they seem to act as though they are above everyone else here. It seems to be a generational thing.    Me,me,me and no-one else is of any significance.It baffles me as they want to live here because it has a 'nice' community but then want no part of it. Bit's of ealing have gone that way too, Beautiful homes but no-one talks to anyone and sod the old people.A classic example was in the winter. Last year (2011) several neighbours cleared the paths of elderly residents and much of the footpaths. This last winter just one person cleared a few paths and he was looked at as though he was mad. With people paying way over the odds for two bed houses and the estate agents slapping on premium prices for camp bed sized 'third bedrooms'  Parking is near impossible and the lofts cannot easily be converted as the conservation restrictions are compounded by a maximum headroom of 6'7".

Michael Brandt ● 4854d

Hi Claire, yes I see that they are very popular. I want to get back to Brentford as I was brought up there. We are only in Chiswick now, but everyone is moving here now and it's loosing it's appeal for us! Really only want those roads tho, as I know that area and people like the back of my hand! Went to school at st pauls, and Brownies ect, and all family weddings and christenings ect were in that church! Want my kids to have that 'community' feel. Plus all my family still live there, (tho in the Butts- and we can't afford that!) so would be much easier for elderly grandparents, etc.. If you hear of anything please let them know about me! Thanx for reply Jane

J Lawrenson ● 4855d

Thanks for advice. I know many have conversions, so hoping can do one too!Usually that is the rule, isnt it? If someone has something similar then approval is usually given. I am hoping that a seller wants to cut out the agent fee, and earn extra via tenant/buyer option..If you know off anyone please let me know! Thanx

J Lawrenson ● 4855d

Would also add that those streets are Conservation Areas so you will require planning permission for any roof enlargements etc. so it may be problematic to obtain planning permission for a rear dormer extension which provides sufficient internal space for an extra room.

Adam Beamish ● 4855d

I think you'll struggle to get a rent to buy deal down either of those roads. They're very sought after and seem to fly out so no real difficulty finding buyers.

Claire Peleschka ● 4855d