Despite the planning blight that afflicted Brentford
last century, it can still boast some architectural
treasures, and these should remain since English
Heritage Statutory Listing now protects them. Apart
from the two large estates of Boston Manor and
Gunnersbury Park (both now local authority owned)
Brentford's chief treasurer is The Butts square
which English Heritage describes as one of the finest
groups of late 17th and early 18th century houses to
be found anywhere in west London The Butts was first
developed around 1690 by William Parish who was the
landlord of the Red Lion Inn in Market Place.
Development continued until the middle of the 18th
century with the properties around the square
displaying a degree of harmony although some are
etached some in pairs and others in small terrace
groups. The Butts has played a major role in the
history of Brentford: Protestant martyrs were burnt
at the stake here the Royalist cavalry was stationed
in The Butts during the Battle of Brentford in 1642
and it was where voting for the parliamentary
candidates for Middlesex took place. In 1968 the
butts was designated a Conservation Area (an area
of special architectural or historical interest)
Other listed 18th century Brentford buildings are
Nos 60 and 80 High street (both now offices) also
129-30 (Autowise) 367 (the small school building
used by Mrs trimmer); nos 19and 26a Market place,
17 Somerset Rd, 1 Upper Butts, The Cedars Upper
Butts, St Mary's Convent in the Butts, Brentford
Free Church in Boston Manor Rd St Lawrence's Church
in Brentford High street, nos 67,69,71,73 and 75
Boston Manor Rd, and the old Peerless Pumps building
now incorporated into the Ferry Quays development.
Listed 19th century structures are Kew Bridge Station
the old premises of the Grand Junction Waterworks
(now the Kew Bridge Steam Museum), no 55 High street
(the former fire station), Brentford baths and Gallows
Bridge over the canal. Kew Bridge and the Brentford
Library are listed 20th- century buildings as are the
tollhouse at Brentford Gauging Locks, five 1930s'
factories along the Great West Rd and Alexandra
House in Brentford High Street. A second Conservation
Area was designated in 1989. This is the St Paul's
Conservation Area which runs from Brentford High
Street up Half Acre to the railway line at Boston
Manor Rd It continues east along the railway to
Brook Rd South then southwards to Albany Rd, veering
further south to take in Alexandra House and the old
fire station in the High Street and westwards to
include Somerset Rd. Another conservation area is
being planned to follow the line of the River Brent
and Grand Union Canal
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Last Updated: 21st NOVEMBER 2005
