THE MUSIC MUSEUM
Due to move to purpose-built premises in 2004, this museum
was opened in 1963 in the disused church of St George at
368 Brentford High Street. It was formed from the private
collection of automatic pianos built up by Frank Holland.
Looking for somewhere to house his collection, Holland
approached the church authorities that gave him permission
to use the redundant church and appointed him caretaker.
Holland, wearing a velvet smoking cap compete with tassel,
was famous for the idiosyncratic afternoon tours he gave
the public. He likened his collection to a zoo full of
rare and exotic animals, all with their different colours
and cries. His collection was formed into a trust - the
British Piano Museum, in 1966 and the collection's scope
extended to cover the history of the piano and the development
of all kinds of automatic instruments-street organs, musical
boxes, nickelodeons, barrel organs etc. One of the museum's
main attractions is the Wurlitzer Pipe Organ. This was
originally installed in the Regal Theatre, Kingston in 1932
where it became an immediate success. Frank Holland was
made MBE in 1979 and died in 1989.
KEW BRIDGE STEAM MUSEUM
Located in the former Grand Junction Water Works buildings,
this museum opened in 1975. The site still belongs to Thames
Water Plc, which leases the building to the Kew Bridge Engines
trust and Water supply Museum. It was the Metropolitan Water
Board itself (the predecessor of Thames Water) that conceived
the idea for the museum in the 1940s when electric pumps were
replacing the giant steam engines should be preserved for
posterity and they were kept clean and shown to visitors by
appointment. The Water Board was no doubt delighted when,
in the 1960s a group of steam enthusiasts, looking for a
base to continue their restoration work, offered to lease
the Kew bridge site and develop a museum. Not only does
the Kew Bridge Steam Museum house the largest collection
of static steam engines in the world, but also the engines
are' in steam' every weekend and Bank Holiday Monday. The
Museum has also hosted occasional displays of historic fire
fighting equipment, traction engines, model steam engines
and steamboats. The permanent 'Water for Life' gallery was
opened in 1997 with funding from various sources including
the Heritage Lottery.
GUNNESBURY PARK MUSEUM
In 1929 Gunnersbury Park (the largest of the two Gunnersbury
mansions0 was turned into a museum with a display of local
antiquities, books, maps and views collected by Frederick
Sadler, Borough Surveyor of Acton. These had been bought
by subscription for £500 when Mr Sadler moved to South Africa.
Miss Susan Smee, first lady mayor of the Borough of Acton,
acted as honorary curator until 1945. The museum was then
closed until 1948. The collection has been expanded over
the years It includes several horse-drawn vehicles, notably
two carriages used by the Rothschild family; flint implements
found by Mr Sadler and prehistoric metalwork from the Thames
collected by Thomas Layton. The first full-time professional
curator was appointed in 1955 and, following the reorganisation
of local government in 1965, the financing of the museum has
been met jointly by the London Boroughs of Ealing and Hounslow
with the latter responsible for the Museum's administration on
behalf of the Gunnersbury Park Joint Committee which is made
up of elected representatives from both Boroughs.
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Last Updated: 21st NOVEMBER 2005
