Spectacular Roads
Moderator: RichardW
- white exec
- Moderating Team
- Posts: 7445
- Joined: 21 Dec 2015, 12:46
- Location: Sayalonga, Malaga, Spain
- My Cars: 1996 XM 2.5TD Exclusive hatch RHD
1992 BX19D Millesime hatch LHD
previously 1989 BX19RD, 1998 ZX 1.9D auto, 2001 Xantia 1.8i auto
and lots of Rovers before that: 1935 Ten, 1947 Sixteen, 1960 P5 3-litre, 1966 P6 2000, 1972 P6 2000TC, and 1975 P6B 3500S - x 1752
Re: Spectacular Roads
Here we go.
BW photo, taken from one of the new tall buildings on the north side - maybe the Martini building.
On the left is North Thames Gas, and the old Agfa-Gevaert buildings. The Coles Priestman (cranes/construction) building is now gone, to be replaced with a 1982 six-storey HQ for Agfa UK.
In the background, Kew Bridge Station, Brentford FC, the old gasworks, and the River Thames.
There could be prizes (well, points anyway) for being able to date the photo, maybe from the somewhat sparse traffic on the motorway.
When originally constructed (and Macleans (toothpaste) sued for £1M for 'loss of daylight' when the flyover passed over their rooftop in Boston Manor Road, heading westwards), the elevated structure was equipped with electrical under-road heating. A series of small substations hugged the supporting pillars. Rising energy prices saw off continued use of the system, and the highways authorities resorted to the usual salt-sand mix for de-icing. Unfortunately, both tarmac and concrete were porous, and no membrane, and the salt leached through to the supporting concrete, corroding and swelling the steel reinforcing. In many places, the steel bars actually broke through the concrete surface.
The proposal was to drill the concrete, about every 20cm, across its entire surface, and to inject stabilising solutions. Squads of men were employed to paint small black marks on the concrete, to tell the drillers where to place their bits. So far as I know, the drilling was never done (and I'm talking 25 years ago now), but the black blobs remain! At the last count, total demolition of the elevated section was being discussed.
BW photo, taken from one of the new tall buildings on the north side - maybe the Martini building.
On the left is North Thames Gas, and the old Agfa-Gevaert buildings. The Coles Priestman (cranes/construction) building is now gone, to be replaced with a 1982 six-storey HQ for Agfa UK.
In the background, Kew Bridge Station, Brentford FC, the old gasworks, and the River Thames.
There could be prizes (well, points anyway) for being able to date the photo, maybe from the somewhat sparse traffic on the motorway.
When originally constructed (and Macleans (toothpaste) sued for £1M for 'loss of daylight' when the flyover passed over their rooftop in Boston Manor Road, heading westwards), the elevated structure was equipped with electrical under-road heating. A series of small substations hugged the supporting pillars. Rising energy prices saw off continued use of the system, and the highways authorities resorted to the usual salt-sand mix for de-icing. Unfortunately, both tarmac and concrete were porous, and no membrane, and the salt leached through to the supporting concrete, corroding and swelling the steel reinforcing. In many places, the steel bars actually broke through the concrete surface.
The proposal was to drill the concrete, about every 20cm, across its entire surface, and to inject stabilising solutions. Squads of men were employed to paint small black marks on the concrete, to tell the drillers where to place their bits. So far as I know, the drilling was never done (and I'm talking 25 years ago now), but the black blobs remain! At the last count, total demolition of the elevated section was being discussed.
Chris
- NewcastleFalcon
- Posts: 24730
- Joined: 25 Feb 2009, 10:40
- Location:
- My Cars:
- x 6887
Re: Spectacular Roads
Has to be post 65, and if you can see a P6 Rover 3500 it after 1967, an Austin Maxi after 1968, and a MkIII Cortina potentially creeping into the 1970's.
The Brentford Towers Estate, if that's what we can see consisted of six towers built between 1968 and 1972.
Now the avid Dr Who fan may well recognise Harvey House, one of the towers, from "Day of the Daleks"
This was filmed in September 1971, and the said tower block may well have been the Daleks HQ!
Regards Neil
The Brentford Towers Estate, if that's what we can see consisted of six towers built between 1968 and 1972.
Now the avid Dr Who fan may well recognise Harvey House, one of the towers, from "Day of the Daleks"
This was filmed in September 1971, and the said tower block may well have been the Daleks HQ!
Regards Neil
Last edited by NewcastleFalcon on 30 Aug 2016, 17:03, edited 2 times in total.
Only One AA Box left
687 Trinity, Jersey
687 Trinity, Jersey
- CitroJim
- A very naughty boy
- Posts: 49658
- Joined: 30 Apr 2005, 23:33
- Location: Paggers
- My Cars: Bluebell the AX, Polly the C3 Picasso, Pix the Nissan Pixo, Propel the duathlon bike, TCR Pro the road bike and Fuji the TT bike...
- x 6203
- Contact:
Re: Spectacular Roads
What a fantastic picture
Jim
Runner, cyclist, time triallist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
Runner, cyclist, time triallist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
- white exec
- Moderating Team
- Posts: 7445
- Joined: 21 Dec 2015, 12:46
- Location: Sayalonga, Malaga, Spain
- My Cars: 1996 XM 2.5TD Exclusive hatch RHD
1992 BX19D Millesime hatch LHD
previously 1989 BX19RD, 1998 ZX 1.9D auto, 2001 Xantia 1.8i auto
and lots of Rovers before that: 1935 Ten, 1947 Sixteen, 1960 P5 3-litre, 1966 P6 2000, 1972 P6 2000TC, and 1975 P6B 3500S - x 1752
Re: Spectacular Roads
OK, Neil. I've just gone back to my original half-tone print of the photo, and put a decent linen glass on it.
In Agfa's front car park:
BMW2002
Austin-Morris 1100/1300 (lots)
Rover P6 - Mk.2 (facelifted, so Autumn 1970 or later)
Mini
VW Beetle
VW Camper
In their rear car park:
Ford Transit box/curtain van
Ford Mk1 Cortina, possibly Lotus
Austin Westminstery thing
Behind the railway line:
Routemaster bus
RF single-decker bus (what was that doing there?)
Just to the right of the Agfa-Gevaert building being painted (I can't read the guys' watches):
Citroen 2CV
Hillman something
On the motorway carriageway:
Triumph 2000 or two
Morris Traveller
By 1982, Agfa had demolished the Coles-Priestman building, and everything between it and the railway, and built a new purpose-designed UK HQ:
I was based there from 1989 to 2003, and so got to know the area rather well, having grown up and gone to school in nearby Ealing.
In Agfa's front car park:
BMW2002
Austin-Morris 1100/1300 (lots)
Rover P6 - Mk.2 (facelifted, so Autumn 1970 or later)
Mini
VW Beetle
VW Camper
In their rear car park:
Ford Transit box/curtain van
Ford Mk1 Cortina, possibly Lotus
Austin Westminstery thing
Behind the railway line:
Routemaster bus
RF single-decker bus (what was that doing there?)
Just to the right of the Agfa-Gevaert building being painted (I can't read the guys' watches):
Citroen 2CV
Hillman something
On the motorway carriageway:
Triumph 2000 or two
Morris Traveller
By 1982, Agfa had demolished the Coles-Priestman building, and everything between it and the railway, and built a new purpose-designed UK HQ:
I was based there from 1989 to 2003, and so got to know the area rather well, having grown up and gone to school in nearby Ealing.
Chris
- bobins
- Donor 2023
- Posts: 5739
- Joined: 05 Jul 2012, 18:07
- Location: Midhurst, West Sussex
- My Cars: Kia Sportage
Mazda BT-50
Land Rover SIII SWB
V-F-R800
SL320
MX5 - x 2892
Re: Spectacular Roads
white exec wrote:OK, Neil. I've just gone back to my original half-tone print of the photo, and put a decent linen glass on it.
Just to the right of the Agfa-Gevaert building being painted (I can't read the guys' watches):
Have you noticed the chap painting the first floor window is standing on the window ledge, leaning back, holding on with one hand whilst painting with the other
Sadly no longer a C5 owner
- myglaren
- Forum Admin Team
- Posts: 25474
- Joined: 02 Mar 2008, 13:30
- Location: Washington
- My Cars: Mazda 6
Ooops.
Previously:
2009 Honda Civic :(
C5, C5, Xantia, BX, GS, Visa.
R4, R11TXE, R14, R30TX - x 4922
Re: Spectacular Roads
Been there, done that, many a time.bobins wrote:
Have you noticed the chap painting the first floor window is standing on the window ledge, leaning back, holding on with one hand whilst painting with the other
- NewcastleFalcon
- Posts: 24730
- Joined: 25 Feb 2009, 10:40
- Location:
- My Cars:
- x 6887
Re: Spectacular Roads
So, how much do I know about Brentford.....not much but a canny bit more than I knew yesterday. .
Of course the names of the tower blocks are not just pulled out of thin air but....
Back to the task in hand....there is a handful of cars near most of the blocks shown (many less than if you look now on google maps satellite view) so I would say the photo had to be taken 1972 or later.
Regards Neil
Of course the names of the tower blocks are not just pulled out of thin air but....
..and the London Museum of Water and Steam is there to tell the story.1972 The first occupants moved into the blocks of flats built on the redundant filter beds of the water works. The blocks were named to commemorate the connection. Cornish beam engines had been used at the waterworks. Boulton was a partner of James Watt and developed the use of steam engines for pumping, Harvey and Co of Hayle in Cornwall built engines for the Kew works. Maudsley was a mechanical engineer who supplied the first engine to work at Kew. Wicksteed was a consulting engineer who realised the efficiency of the Cornish engines and Fraser was the designer of the tower built to protect the system of stand pipes from frost.
Back to the task in hand....there is a handful of cars near most of the blocks shown (many less than if you look now on google maps satellite view) so I would say the photo had to be taken 1972 or later.
Regards Neil
Only One AA Box left
687 Trinity, Jersey
687 Trinity, Jersey
- NewcastleFalcon
- Posts: 24730
- Joined: 25 Feb 2009, 10:40
- Location:
- My Cars:
- x 6887
Re: Spectacular Roads
....and an aside but a reminder of different times...who can forget "Brentford Nylons" (yes probably everybody ) and there's an E-type Jag in the image to boot!
Regards Neil
Regards Neil
Only One AA Box left
687 Trinity, Jersey
687 Trinity, Jersey
- white exec
- Moderating Team
- Posts: 7445
- Joined: 21 Dec 2015, 12:46
- Location: Sayalonga, Malaga, Spain
- My Cars: 1996 XM 2.5TD Exclusive hatch RHD
1992 BX19D Millesime hatch LHD
previously 1989 BX19RD, 1998 ZX 1.9D auto, 2001 Xantia 1.8i auto
and lots of Rovers before that: 1935 Ten, 1947 Sixteen, 1960 P5 3-litre, 1966 P6 2000, 1972 P6 2000TC, and 1975 P6B 3500S - x 1752
Re: Spectacular Roads
That bit of the Great West Road (Gillette Corner to the Chiswick Roundabout) wasn't known as The Golden Mile for nothing.
I well remember the awful Sunday morning when the new owners of the 1930s Firestone Building sent in the wrecker balls and bulldozers, and completely demolished the facade of the building in a couple of hours flat. It was scheduled to be Grade II listed, but the DoE hadn't actually signed it off. Civil Servants were got out of bed on a Sunday morning to complete the paperwork on what was left, and the Hoover Building (on the A40, Western Avenue) was also protected at the same time, having recently been acquired by Tesco. Absolute vandalism, knowingly done.
Brentford Nylons - yes, indeed. Lovely pastel shades of pink, yellow, blue, and white. Black was added, briefly.
A name to remember, but unfortunately not the sheer variety .
I well remember the awful Sunday morning when the new owners of the 1930s Firestone Building sent in the wrecker balls and bulldozers, and completely demolished the facade of the building in a couple of hours flat. It was scheduled to be Grade II listed, but the DoE hadn't actually signed it off. Civil Servants were got out of bed on a Sunday morning to complete the paperwork on what was left, and the Hoover Building (on the A40, Western Avenue) was also protected at the same time, having recently been acquired by Tesco. Absolute vandalism, knowingly done.
Brentford Nylons - yes, indeed. Lovely pastel shades of pink, yellow, blue, and white. Black was added, briefly.
A name to remember, but unfortunately not the sheer variety .
Chris
- NewcastleFalcon
- Posts: 24730
- Joined: 25 Feb 2009, 10:40
- Location:
- My Cars:
- x 6887
Re: Spectacular Roads
....and keen observers and absorbers of knowledge from the pages of these threads will have got at least one question right from University Challenge last night.....
The answer was Matthew Boulton, he of Brentford tower-block naming fame, as well as being partner of James Watt, and member of the Lunar society of prominent figures in the "Midlands Enlightenment"
Regards Neil
The answer was Matthew Boulton, he of Brentford tower-block naming fame, as well as being partner of James Watt, and member of the Lunar society of prominent figures in the "Midlands Enlightenment"
Regards Neil
Only One AA Box left
687 Trinity, Jersey
687 Trinity, Jersey
- CitroJim
- A very naughty boy
- Posts: 49658
- Joined: 30 Apr 2005, 23:33
- Location: Paggers
- My Cars: Bluebell the AX, Polly the C3 Picasso, Pix the Nissan Pixo, Propel the duathlon bike, TCR Pro the road bike and Fuji the TT bike...
- x 6203
- Contact:
Re: Spectacular Roads
And bloody awful bedsheets... I remember those from my childhood.. Yuk...white exec wrote:Brentford Nylons - yes, indeed. Lovely pastel shades of pink, yellow, blue, and white. Black was added, briefly.
A name to remember, but unfortunately not the sheer variety .
A name to remember certainly but not good memories... Long gone and not missed!
Jim
Runner, cyclist, time triallist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
Runner, cyclist, time triallist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
- NewcastleFalcon
- Posts: 24730
- Joined: 25 Feb 2009, 10:40
- Location:
- My Cars:
- x 6887
- CitroJim
- A very naughty boy
- Posts: 49658
- Joined: 30 Apr 2005, 23:33
- Location: Paggers
- My Cars: Bluebell the AX, Polly the C3 Picasso, Pix the Nissan Pixo, Propel the duathlon bike, TCR Pro the road bike and Fuji the TT bike...
- x 6203
- Contact:
Re: Spectacular Roads
Bit busy for my liking if I was on a bike but a beautiful picture though...
Where is that?
Where is that?
Jim
Runner, cyclist, time triallist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
Runner, cyclist, time triallist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
- white exec
- Moderating Team
- Posts: 7445
- Joined: 21 Dec 2015, 12:46
- Location: Sayalonga, Malaga, Spain
- My Cars: 1996 XM 2.5TD Exclusive hatch RHD
1992 BX19D Millesime hatch LHD
previously 1989 BX19RD, 1998 ZX 1.9D auto, 2001 Xantia 1.8i auto
and lots of Rovers before that: 1935 Ten, 1947 Sixteen, 1960 P5 3-litre, 1966 P6 2000, 1972 P6 2000TC, and 1975 P6B 3500S - x 1752
Re: Spectacular Roads
Heck, how do you enjoy the scenery in traffic like that?!
Answer: Carefully.
Answer: Carefully.
Chris
- CitroJim
- A very naughty boy
- Posts: 49658
- Joined: 30 Apr 2005, 23:33
- Location: Paggers
- My Cars: Bluebell the AX, Polly the C3 Picasso, Pix the Nissan Pixo, Propel the duathlon bike, TCR Pro the road bike and Fuji the TT bike...
- x 6203
- Contact:
Re: Spectacular Roads
white exec wrote:Heck, how do you enjoy the scenery in traffic like that?!
Answer: Carefully.
Or travel at a quieter time
Jim
Runner, cyclist, time triallist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
Runner, cyclist, time triallist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...