London Factories
Here you see all that is left of the Firestone building, Wallis Gilbert and Partner's first great opus of factory building, a set of gates and processional pathway to where the main entrance once stood. Constructed in 1927 for the American Firestone Tire & Rubber Company it was located on a 28-acre site in Brentford on the newly completed Great West Road.
The Firestone was a sacrificial victim. Long after the company had left the premises, the landowners, who feared the consequences of the factory being shortly given listed status, destroyed the building in an act of utter vandalism. They demolished whole sections of it over one weekend. This outrage led to the creation of preservationist groups being set up, including "The 1930's Society", which later became "The Twentieth Century Society". (Link to their website?)
In addition to the Firestone plant and the Hoover factory, there were a number of other factories built between the two World Wars in London. Many of these were built by Wallis Gilbert and Partner, though there were others of note.
The Pyrene Factory
After Firestone, Wallis Gilbert and Partners’s next major structure, across the road from the Firestone site on the Great West Road, was the Pyrene building. Less elegant than either Hoover or Firestone, it nonetheless features some excellent detailing. It is a long building with a central tower. It was originally constructed for the Pyrene company, which started out manufacturing fire extinguishers to the design of a Scottish engineer. The entrance at the base of the tower features ceramic decoration suggesting a kilt design. Carrying on the Egyptian motifs that had enlivened both Firestone and Hoover, the architects carefully worked in a Ram's horn on either side of the central tower.
Ram's horn motif on the Pyrene Factory
The Coty Factory
Wallis Gilbert and Partner designed this for the French perfume company Coty. They had expanded into other toiletries, and decided that the time was ripe for setting up a manufacturing base in Britain. Located across from the Firestone site on the Great West Road, it has recently been renovated and restored to its original white colour.
Coty Factory entrance
The Gillette Factory
Designed by the architect Sir Banister Fletcher (1866-1953), an architect who had previously been associated with mainly historical styles, the Gillette Factory is just across the road from the Pyrene and Coty buildings.
Gillette clock tower
Gillette main entrance
The Spitfire Works
Officially known as The Palmer Tyre Company, this fantastic factory manufactured parts for famous WWII fighter planes such as the Spitfire, Hurricane and the Lancaster bomber. It is located Wheels, tyres and gun turrets were made and assembled here in 97,000 square feet of light industrial premises. Located a short distance from Edgware Road underground station, it was re-designed by the renowned Post-Modernist architect Sir Terry Farrell in 1988, providing light industrial units and offices, and his architectural practice.
Spitfire Factory detail
Though somewhat faded, some of the bright colours of the age remain here.
Spitfire Factory entrance and commemorative plaque.
Sunlight Laundry
Located in Brixton, this was constructed in 1937 for the Sunlight Laundry, which is still making use of it. There are in fact very few industrial buildings from this time that have retained both their original purpose and owner. The architect was F E Simpkins.
Sunlight Laundry central tower
Cinemas, Hoover Factory, Underground, Offices, Artists