Firestone Tyre Factory
| Firestone tyre factory or Firestone Building | |
|---|---|
 1963 view of the factory | |
  Location within Greater London | |
| General information | |
| Town or city | Brentford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Destroyed | August 1980 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Wallis, Gilbert and Partners |
The Firestone tyre factory or Firestone Building on the Great West Road in Brentford, West London, was an example of Art Deco architecture designed by Wallis, Gilbert and Partners. Built on a 26-acre site, it opened in October 1928.[1][2]
The company announced in November 1979 that it would close the factory.[3][4]
After its purchase by Trafalgar House PLC, the building was demolished during the August 1980 bank holiday weekend, reportedly in anticipation of its becoming listed.[5][6] The Twentieth Century Society call the structure their "first serious case" and say that its destruction[7]
[...] focussed 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.[8]
See also
References
- ^ http://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/626950.0/
- ^ http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60C11FA395E1B728DDDAE0994D8415B888EF1D3
- ^ "Firestone Plans Cuts in Europe". 1979-11-15.
The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company Ltd, said today that it would discontinue operations at its Brentford, Middlesex, plant within the next three [...]
- ^ http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/doc/162619407.html?FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Nov%2015,%201979&author=&pub=Los%20Angeles%20Times&edition=&startpage=&desc=Firestone%20to%20Cut%20European%20Output
- ^ http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2004/nov/20/architecture
- ^ "'Erotic gherkin' company has 'form'".
Trafalgar House used to own the Firestone Building on Western Avenue. Two days before the building was to be listed, it flattened that, too.
- ^ http://www.c20society.org.uk/about-us/
- ^ http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-488371-central-gates-gate-piers-and-railings-to
External links
- http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~garycr/2001/firestone_factory/
- http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw025229
51°29′5.9″N 0°19′18.7″W / 51.484972°N 0.321861°W
Category:Art Deco architecture in London Category:Grade II listed buildings in London