Firestone Tyre Factory: Difference between revisions

Firestone Tyre Factory
Firestone Tyre Factory
	1963 view of the factory
	Location within Greater London
General information
Town or city	Brentford
Country	United Kingdom
Coordinates	51°29′5.9″N 0°19′18.7″W / 51.484972°N 0.321861°W
Destroyed	August 1980
Design and construction
Architecture firm	Wallis, Gilbert and Partners

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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]

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]

References

^ ^a ^b "Central Gates, Gate Piers and Railings to the Former Firestone Factory – Hounslow – Greater London – England". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 17 October 2013. Central gates, gate piers and railngs to the former Firestone Factory. 1928 by Wallis, Gilbert and Partners.
^ "25 years on – the end of Firestone (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)". Richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk. 1 September 2005. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
^ Wireless to THE NEW YORK TIMES. (17 October 1928). "FIRESTONE, IN AKRON, ADDRESSES LONDONERS - Tire Manufacturer Uses Radio for Speech at Opening of New Factory. - Article". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
^ "The Great West Road Then & Now | Brentford & Chiswick Local History Society". brentfordandchiswicklhs.org.uk. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
^ A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3: Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell, Sunbury, Teddington, Heston and Isleworth, Twickenham, Cowley, Cranford, West Drayton, Greenford, Hanwell, Harefield and Harlington (1962), Heston and Isleworth: Economic and social history, pages 114–119. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
^ "Firestone Plans Cuts in Europe". The New York Times. 15 November 1979. The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company Ltd, said today that it would discontinue operations at its Brentford, Middlesex, plant within the next three [...]
^ "Los Angeles Times: Archives – Firestone to Cut European Output". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. 15 November 1979. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
^ Fiona MacCarthy (20 November 2004). "Grand designs | Art and design". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
^ "'Erotic gherkin' company has 'form'". The Daily Telegraph. London. 25 August 2000. Trafalgar House used to own the Firestone Building on Western Avenue. Two days before the building was to be listed, it flattened that, too.
^ "About us – The Twentieth Century Society". C20society.org.uk. Retrieved 17 October 2013.

External links

51°29′5.9″N 0°19′18.7″W / 51.484972°N 0.321861°W / 51.484972; -0.321861

[listed-1] "Central Gates, Gate Piers and Railings to the Former Firestone Factory – Hounslow – Greater London – England". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 17 October 2013. Central gates, gate piers and railngs to the former Firestone Factory. 1928 by Wallis, Gilbert and Partners.

[richmond-2] "25 years on – the end of Firestone (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)". Richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk. 1 September 2005. Retrieved 17 October 2013.

[3] Wireless to THE NEW YORK TIMES. (17 October 1928). "FIRESTONE, IN AKRON, ADDRESSES LONDONERS - Tire Manufacturer Uses Radio for Speech at Opening of New Factory. - Article". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 October 2013.

[4] "The Great West Road Then & Now | Brentford & Chiswick Local History Society". brentfordandchiswicklhs.org.uk. Retrieved 5 August 2019.

[5] A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3: Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell, Sunbury, Teddington, Heston and Isleworth, Twickenham, Cowley, Cranford, West Drayton, Greenford, Hanwell, Harefield and Harlington (1962), Heston and Isleworth: Economic and social history, pages 114–119. Retrieved 17 October 2013.

[6] "Firestone Plans Cuts in Europe". The New York Times. 15 November 1979. The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company Ltd, said today that it would discontinue operations at its Brentford, Middlesex, plant within the next three [...]

[7] "Los Angeles Times: Archives – Firestone to Cut European Output". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. 15 November 1979. Retrieved 17 October 2013.

[8] Fiona MacCarthy (20 November 2004). "Grand designs | Art and design". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 October 2013.

[9] "'Erotic gherkin' company has 'form'". The Daily Telegraph. London. 25 August 2000. Trafalgar House used to own the Firestone Building on Western Avenue. Two days before the building was to be listed, it flattened that, too.

[10] "About us – The Twentieth Century Society". C20society.org.uk. Retrieved 17 October 2013.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Former factory in Brentford, England}}
+{{EngvarB|date=October 2017}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
 {{Infobox building
 | name                = Firestone Tyre Factory
@@ Line 23: / Line 26: @@
 | current_tenants     =
 | landlord            =
-| location            =
 | address             =
 | location_town       = [[Brentford]]
-| location_country    = United Kingdom
+| location_country    = [[United Kingdom]]
+| coordinates         = {{coord|51|29|5.9|N|0|19|18.7|W|display=inline}}
-| iso_region          =
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-| coordinates_format  =
-| latitude            =
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-| latd                = 51
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-| latNS               = N
-| longd               = 0
-| longm               = 19
-| longs               = 18.7
-| longEW              = W
-| coordinates         =
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 | start_date          =
@@ Line 73: / Line 62: @@
 | ren_firm            =
 | parking             =
-| url                 =
 | embedded            =
 | references          =
 }}
-The '''Firestone Tyre Factory''' on the [[Golden Mile (Brentford)|Great West Road]] in [[Brentford]] in the [[London Borough of Hounslow]] was an example of [[Art Deco]] [[architecture]]. It was designed by [[Wallis, Gilbert and Partners]] for the [[Firestone Tire and Rubber Company]].<ref name=listed/> Built on a 26-acre site, it opened in October 1928.<ref name=richmond>{{cite web|url=http://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/626950.0/ |title=25 years on - the end of Firestone (From Richmond and Twickenham Times) |publisher=Richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk |date=2005-09-01 |accessdate=2013-10-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Wireless to THE NEW YORK TIMES. |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60C11FA395E1B728DDDAE0994D8415B888EF1D3 |title=FIRESTONE, IN AKRON, ADDRESSES LONDONERS - Tire Manufacturer Uses Radio for Speech at Opening of New Factory. - Article - NYTimes.com |publisher=Select.nytimes.com |date=1928-10-17 |accessdate=2013-10-17}}</ref> It was the first factory to open on the Great West Road.<ref>A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3: Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell, Sunbury, Teddington, Heston and Isleworth, Twickenham, Cowley, Cranford, West Drayton, Greenford, Hanwell, Harefield and Harlington (1962), [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22279 Heston and Isleworth: Economic and social history],  pages 114-119. Retrieved 2013-10-17.</ref>
+The '''Firestone Tyre Factory''' was an [[Art Deco]] building on the [[Golden Mile (Brentford)|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]].<ref name=listed/> Built on a 26{{En dash}}acre site, it opened in October 1928<ref name=richmond>{{cite web|url=http://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/626950.0/ |title=25 years on – the end of Firestone (From Richmond and Twickenham Times) |publisher=Richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk |date=1 September 2005 |accessdate=17 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Wireless to THE NEW YORK TIMES. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1928/10/17/archives/firestone-in-akron-addresses-londoners-tire-manufacturer-uses-radio.html |title=FIRESTONE, IN AKRON, ADDRESSES LONDONERS - Tire Manufacturer Uses Radio for Speech at Opening of New Factory. - Article |work=The New York Times |date=17 October 1928 |accessdate=17 October 2013}}</ref> and was the second factory to open on the Great West Road, following [[Hudson_Motor_Car_Company#United_Kingdom|Hudson-Essex Motors of Great Britain Limited]] which opened in 1927.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brentfordandchiswicklhs.org.uk/local-history/industries-and-crafts/the-great-west-road-then-now/|title=The Great West Road Then & Now {{!}} Brentford & Chiswick Local History Society|website=brentfordandchiswicklhs.org.uk|access-date=2019-08-05}}</ref><ref>A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3: Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell, Sunbury, Teddington, Heston and Isleworth, Twickenham, Cowley, Cranford, West Drayton, Greenford, Hanwell, Harefield and Harlington (1962), [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22279 Heston and Isleworth: Economic and social history], pages 114–119. Retrieved 17 October 2013.</ref>
+==Demolition and controversy==
-The company announced in November 1979 that it would close the factory.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60917FB3B5D11728DDDAC0994D9415B898BF1D3|title=Firestone Plans Cuts in Europe|date=1979-11-15|quote=The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company Ltd, said today that it would discontinue operations at its Brentford, Middlesex, plant within the next three [...]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=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 |title=Los Angeles Times: Archives - Firestone to Cut European Output |publisher=Pqasb.pqarchiver.com |date=1979-11-15 |accessdate=2013-10-17}}</ref>
+The company announced in November 1979 that it would close the factory.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/11/15/archives/company-news-firestone-plans-cuts-in-europe.html|title=Firestone Plans Cuts in Europe|date=15 November 1979|quote=The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company Ltd, said today that it would discontinue operations at its Brentford, Middlesex, plant within the next three [...]|work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/162619407 |title=Los Angeles Times: Archives – Firestone to Cut European Output |publisher=Pqasb.pqarchiver.com |date=15 November 1979 |access-date=17 October 2013}}</ref>
-After its purchase by [[Trafalgar House (company)|Trafalgar House PLC]], the building was demolished during the August 1980 [[bank holiday]] weekend, reportedly in anticipation of its becoming [[listed building|listed]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Fiona MacCarthy |url=http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2004/nov/20/architecture |title=Grand designs &#124; Art and design |publisher=The Guardian |date=2004-11-20 |accessdate=2013-10-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/4254295/Erotic-gherkin-company-has-form.html|title='Erotic gherkin' company has 'form'|quote=Trafalgar House used to own the Firestone Building on Western Avenue. Two days before the building was to be listed, it flattened that, too.}}</ref> The [[Twentieth Century Society]] call the structure their "first serious case" and say that its destruction<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.c20society.org.uk/about-us/ |title=About us — The Twentieth Century Society |publisher=C20society.org.uk |date= |accessdate=2013-10-17}}</ref> {{quote|1=[...] 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.}}
+After its purchase by [[Trafalgar House (company)|Trafalgar House]], the building was demolished during the August 1980 [[bank holiday]] weekend, reportedly in anticipation of its becoming [[listed building|listed]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Fiona MacCarthy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2004/nov/20/architecture |title=Grand designs &#124; Art and design |work=The Guardian |date=20 November 2004 |accessdate=17 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/4254295/Erotic-gherkin-company-has-form.html|title='Erotic gherkin' company has 'form'|quote=Trafalgar House used to own the Firestone Building on Western Avenue. Two days before the building was to be listed, it flattened that, too. | location=London|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=25 August 2000}}</ref> The [[Twentieth Century Society]] call the structure their "first serious case" and say that its destruction<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.c20society.org.uk/about-us/ |title=About us – The Twentieth Century Society |publisher=C20society.org.uk |accessdate=17 October 2013}}</ref> "focused public attention on the necessity for greater protection for 20th century buildings and led directly to the listing of 150 examples of inter{{En dash}}war architecture (including [[Battersea Power Station]]) by the government".
+The gates, piers and railings fencing the site received a Grade II listing in 2001.<ref name=listed>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-488371-central-gates-gate-piers-and-railings-to |title=Central Gates, Gate Piers and Railings to the Former Firestone Factory – Hounslow – Greater London – England |publisher=British Listed Buildings |accessdate=17 October 2013|quote=Central gates, gate piers and railngs to the former Firestone Factory. 1928 by Wallis, Gilbert and Partners.}}</ref>
-The gates, piers and railings fencing the site received a Grade II listing in 2001.<ref name=listed>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-488371-central-gates-gate-piers-and-railings-to |title=Central Gates, Gate Piers and Railings to the Former Firestone Factory - Hounslow - Greater London - England |publisher=British Listed Buildings |date= |accessdate=2013-10-17|quote=Central gates, gate piers and railngs to the former Firestone Factory. 1928 by Wallis, Gilbert and Partners.}}</ref>
 ==See also==
@@ Line 96: / Line 84: @@
 ==External links==
 {{commons category|Former Firestone factory, Brentford}}
-* http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~garycr/2001/firestone_factory/
+* [http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~garycr/2001/firestone_factory/  Globalnet.co.uk: Firestone Factory]
-* http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw025229
+* [http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw025229  Britainfromabove.org: Firestone tyre factory]
-* http://brentfordandchiswicklhs.org.uk/local-history/buildings/the-firestone-factory/
+* [http://brentfordandchiswicklhs.org.uk/local-history/buildings/the-firestone-factory/  Brentford and Chiswicklhs.org: Firestone Factory]
-* http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/b/brentford/index50.shtml
+* [http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/b/brentford/index50.shtml  Disused-stations.org:  Brentford]
 {{coord|51|29|5.9|N|0|19|18.7|W|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title}}
+{{Bridgestone Corporation}}
-[[Category:Art Deco architecture in London]]
-[[Category:Brentford, London]]
-[[Category:Grade II listed buildings in London]]
 [[Category:Manufacturing plants in England]]
+[[Category:Brentford, London]]
 [[Category:Bridgestone]]
+[[Category:Demolished buildings and structures in London]]
+[[Category:Demolished manufacturing buildings and structures]]
+[[Category:History of the London Borough of Hounslow]]
+[[Category:History of Middlesex]]
+[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1928]]
+[[Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 1980]]
+[[Category:1928 establishments in England]]
+[[Category:1980 disestablishments in England]]
+[[Category:Grade II listed buildings in the London Borough of Hounslow]]
+[[Category:Grade II listed industrial buildings]]
+[[Category:Art Deco architecture in London]]

v t e Bridgestone Corporation
Subsidiaries	Bridgestone Golf Firestone Diversified Products Firestone Natural Rubber Company Firestone Tire and Rubber Company Firestone-Apsley Rubber Company
Products	Bridgestone Picnica Helmz
Facilities	Firestone Tyre Factory Bridgestone Tower
People	Shōjirō Ishibashi Harvey S. Firestone
Related	Akron Firestone Non-Skids Bridgestone Arena Bridgestone Museum of Art Bridgestone Open Firestone and Ford tire controversy Firestone Country Club International Labor Rights Forum v Firestone Tire and Rubber Co The Voice of Firestone WGC-Bridgestone Invitational Tire war (2005 United States Grand Prix)