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35 - 50 High Street, Old Brentford

A photo from the early 1950s (S26) shows only the Police Station still standing; this stretch was otherwise a series of advertising hoardings. A 2006 photo (S26) shows two large office blocks Albany House and Thameside House occupying this stretch.

Properties

Notes prepared for numbers 35, 36, 41, Police Station (42), 43, 44, 46, 47 and George IV (50); also a list of photos, ephemera and maps

Number 35

North Thames Gas Board records held at the LMA refer to ‘a copyhold messuage in Smith’s Hill Old Brentford, now 35 High Street, Brentford’ (1890). In 1901 as ‘a copyhold tenement in Smith’s Hill, house formerly there now destroyed, known as 35 High Street’. There is also a provisional valuation for Land Tax for number 35 in 1915. (I). The 1909/10 Valuation describes the plot as 'Land at Smith Hill with frontage to High Street, formerly known as 35 High Street'. It was owned by Charles Pascall and described as 'vacant land with advertisement hoarding'. A note dated 25/09/1917 adds 'site slopes away towards river'.

Number 36

• Top floor: 2 attics
• First floor: 2 small rooms
• Ground floor: shop, parlour
• Basement: 1 cellar, WC

Number 41

The Police Station at number 42

In 1871 James Tarling, aged 39 was the Inspector and about 18 police constables (a few with wives) are listed here, suggesting there was accommodation for many; there were also two women prisoners Isabella Reed & Ellen Ryan. James Tarling was still in post in 1874, but by 1881 John Rowling from St Columb, Cornwall, was in charge, aged just 24.

James Tarling meantime had become a licensed victualler and was running the Red Lion, across the road at no. 318 in 1881.

John Rowling remained here in 1901, at which point around 30 people lived here: 19 unmarried PCs plus 4 married men, including John, with their families. In 1913 Thomas Faulkner, sub-divisional inspector, was in charge; in 1920 George Dear; in 1928 Henry Baughan. In 1933 John Young & William Ritchie were inspectors, in 1940 W. Ross.

The 1909/10 Valuation described the Police Station as ‘brick built and slated building on three floors, good condition and well built.’

• 2nd floor: 5 rooms, 3 lavatories, bathroom, WC
• 1st floor: 5 rooms, 3 lavatories
• Ground: 6 rooms
• Basement: cells

• 1st floor: 4 rooms
• Ground: stabling

Arthur Fanning, a descendant of John Oman Mumford, describes his career with the Metropolitan Police at Brentford. John was born in 1851 in London, joined the Met in 1871 and in March 1892 became the sub-divisional inspector in charge of the Old Brentford Police Station.

Number 43

In the 1909/10 Valuation Records the property was described as a ‘semi-detached house, blacksmith’s shop, stable & premises’. The frontage was 27’ and at the side of the house was a dilapidated forge, 22’ 3”. At the rear of the property was a ‘dilapidated 2-stall stable’.‘The house is old property’.

Number 44

The workshop next door housed ‘engineering lathes which could be heard humming through the structure into the Dining room.’ Maurice has prepared a vivid account of the Underhill and Lockyer families.

Records show Henry Underhill listed at number 45 in 1913, 1920 & 1928; in 1933 & 1940 at number 44, the house remembered by his grandson; next door, at number 43a, was the Metropolitan Winding Co. which became known as the Great West Electrical Co, in 1940. The undertakers Maurice remembers are probably Frederick Sargeant, who had premises at number 308/9 in 1933 & 1940.

The 1909/10 Valuation describes no. 44 ‘House and premises, frontage 11’ 3”, owner A. N. Newens (presumably a descendant of Newens the bakers at no. 327) 1 Kew Road, Kew, annual rent £20 16s. Terrace house of 2 storeys: top floor 2 rooms and slip room; ground floor 2 rooms, washhouse and WC. Small yard at rear. Premises old and dirty’.

Number 46

Edward died in 1878 and by 1881 his widow Mary had taken over the business supported by three unmarried children, Mary (37), John C (30) and Elizabeth (29). Meanwhile her son Henry ran a lodging house at 328 High Street and James was a butcher at 325 High Street.

Mary Bovingdon continued to head the household in 1891, aged 74, with daughter Elizabeth and son John, but died in the April to June quarter. Following her death son John took over and is recorded as a poulterer at no. 46 in 1901, age 45. He had an assistant, Percy Grant, age 16, possibly a son of his Grant neighbours at no. 45.

In the 1909/10 Valuation no. 46 is described as 'very old, dilapidated property' owned by John Bovingdon. It had 2 attics on the top floor, 2 rooms on the first floor and a shop, parlour and washhouse on the ground floor. At the rear was an old shed and WC. It had a covered forecourt.

John Bovingdon was recorded at no. 46 in trade directories up to and including 1933. His death was registered in Brentford at the age on 86 in 1936. In 1940 Reginald Woods lived here.

Number 47

In 1881 Ann Bissell, a widowed, Shropshire-born "basket maker's wife", lived here with her three children and a lodger (David P Morgan, a confectioner's traveller born in South Wales). The property was not occupied in 1891. In 1901 Thomas W Barnham, locally born builder, lived here with wife and two small children.

The 1909/10 Valuation describes no.47 as a terrace house of 3 storeys, with 2 attics, 2 rooms on the first floor, on the ground floor 2 rooms, a washhouse and WC at rear. The property was 'old' and owned by Frank Peacock.

In 1907 Miss Mary Ann Dickman, secondhand furniture dealer, is recorded at no. 47; 1911 and 1913: Frederick Oliver; 1920/21: Thomas Moody; 1933: Mrs Moody; 1940: Leonard Smith.

George IV PH at number 50

By 1933 the premises were not listed, but in 1940 H Willmott and Sons, cycle dealers were at number 50, in 1952 Brenray Industries Ltd.

Photos/Ephemera/Maps

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