Firestone Tyre Factory
Former factory in Brentford, England
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Firestone Tyre Factory was an Art Deco building on the Great West Road in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. It was designed by Wallis, Gilbert and Partners for the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company.[1] Built on a 26–acre site, it opened in October 1928[2][3] and was the second factory to open on the Great West Road, following Hudson-Essex Motors of Great Britain Limited which opened in 1927.[4][5]
| Firestone Tyre Factory | |
|---|---|
1963 view of the factory | |
  Location within Greater London | |
| General information | |
| Location | Brentford, United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 51°29′5.9″N 0°19′18.7″W |
| Destroyed | August 1980 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Wallis, Gilbert and Partners |
Demolition and controversy
The company announced in November 1979 that it would close the factory.[6][7]
After its purchase by Trafalgar House, the building was demolished during the August 1980 bank holiday weekend, reportedly in anticipation of its becoming listed.[8][9] The Twentieth Century Society call the structure their "first serious case" and say that its destruction[10] "focused public attention on the necessity for greater protection for 20th century buildings and led directly to the listing of 150 examples of inter–war architecture (including Battersea Power Station) by the government". The gates, piers and railings fencing the site received a Grade II listing in 2001.[1]
