DIANA WILLMENT, A LIFE IN BRENTFORD
During my years in academia I realised that Brentford, where I had settled, had a long and fascinating history. Some of this had not been very closely researched and offered an opportunity to indulge a long-felt interest in industrial history and the Victorians
The triggers were the discovery of the Brentford Monument abandoned and neglected in Ferry Lane and learning that Brentford probably pre-dated London (which has now swallowed it whole) by some thousands of years. The discovery of the Local Studies Department at Chiswick Library, where most of the Brentford material is kept, opened up exciting possibilities
The result has been a series of publications and monographs on some neglected elements of Brentford’s story
In the early 1990s I was asked to collaborate with Elizabeth Wood on the writing
of two walks in Brentford which were published in 1993 by GLIAS, the Greater London Industrial Archaeology Society. I updated them in the early 21st century
For more information see
Brentford Dock & Railway
| 2001 * Brentford Walks |
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| Walk A, the River Thames and Old Brentford | ISBN 0-9540590-0-X |
| Walk B, the Grand Junction Canal and New Brentford | ISBN 0-9540590-1-8 |
Combining history with exercise
Since the redevelopment of industrial Brentford got under way in the late 20th century there have been many changes in the town. These walks from 2001 are getting out of date, but much is still of historical interest. The walks ought to be updated — perhaps some day I shall find the time. The fascination of doing this and their success encouraged me to continue researching and publishing
Price £1:00 each, 65p each for 5 copies or more, post free in UK. Available through email below and local outlets
2001 Brentford Bridge |
Article in Watermark, Issue 12 October 20 |
Article in the Newsletter of the Thames Landscape Strategy (Hampton to Kew), reprinted in the Journal of the Brentford & Chiswick Local History Society 2002. The Bridge was probably modified in 1899-1900 ready for the first tram in 1901, not 1909 as stated
In response to two correspondents who assured us that there was no such thing as Brentford Bridge
2002 * Fire ! 300 Years of Fire Fighting in Brentford |
ISBN 0-9540590-2-6 |
My interest in this was based partly on the Nowell Parr’s splendid little Fire Station and partly on some chance discoveries in Parish records and elsewhere. I was also concerned that the inscription on the front of the Fire Station was becoming difficult to read. The building had become far too small for its original purpose and its story needed to be told
Price £6:00 each, £4:00 each for 5 copies or more, post free in UK. Available through email below
2002 Brentford’s Public Inscriptions |
ISBN 0-9540590-3-4 |
The disappearing inscription on the Fire Station was also responsible for my roaming round Brentford and collecting what public inscriptions I could find. I already had a good number and it seemed worth completing the collection as far as possible. This document was properly published although self-printed. Copies were sent to the local Planning Department, English Heritage and other similar bodies. There is plenty of local interest in Brentford’s past and a surprising number of copies were actually sold
Out of print, copies in Reference Departments at local libraries etc
2003 Brentford Fountain Kew Bridge |
Monograph |
This was part of an unsuccessful effort to stir up interest in regaining custody of Brentford’s Fountain. This had been given to the town by Mrs Samuel Wheeler in memory of her late husband in 1877 and had been accepted as a “sacred trust”. It was given away by the Local Authority to the Western International Market in 1974. The inscription has been erased but luckily Brentford’s Public Inscriptions was already published. So much for Local Authorities, so much for noble gifts and sacred trusts
Out of print
2004 Brentford Library and the First Librarian |
Monograph |
This was produced to mark the centenary of Brentford Public Library, opened in person by Andrew Carnegie in 1904. It features Fred Turner, Brentford’s popular Librarian. Ironically the centenary celebrations were held in 2003. In 2004, on the actual hundredth anniversary of its opening, a Saturday, the Library was closed as the key had been mislaid !
Out of print, copies at Brentford Library
2004 The Boatmen’s Institute Brentford |
Monograph |
This was produced to mark the centenary of the Institute, set up by the London City Mission in 1904. It had been important for its work with canal families until 1978, and is now a private residence. The London City Mission has a comprehensive archive which was difficult to access because the records were not well indexed and were bound by the year instead of the location. Otherwise this work might have been longer
Out of print
2007 * Sir Montagu Sharpe Forgotten Man of Middlesex |
ISBN 978-0-9540590-4-0 |
This was the only time I was let down by Chiswick’s Local Studies Department. Sir Montagu’s name is inscribed on Brentford Monument, Kew Bridge, the Middlesex Guildhall and elsewhere, but the Local Studies Department could tell me nothing about him. Fortunately his own copies of his books left to Brentford Library gave his address, Brent Lodge in Hanwell, Ealing. Initially the Local History Centre at Ealing Library was unhelpful, but changes there brought a sudden break-through. What would Sir Montagu have thought of this investigation into details of his life and subsequent publication ?
Sir Montagu was called to the Bar, was a Brentford Magistrate and a keen lifelong historian of Brentford and Middlesex. An excuse for yet another work largely about Brentford, produced to mark the 150th anniversary of his birth in 1856. This book ventures to trace some of the history of the traditions about Julius Caesar’s Thames crossing in 54 BC. Sir Montagu’s researches had led him to the conclusion that Brentford was the place
He was a leader in an impressive number of activities, enterprises and campaigns in the public interest, including early support for the RSPB. He was responsible for a change to the Middlesex Coat of Arms and for the Brentford Monument. He vigorously opposed the proposal to site a new sewage works in Syon Park; the existing one at Mogden was enlarged instead. He was Chairman of Middlesex County Council for many years
Price £6:00 per copy, £4:00 per copy for 5 copies or more, post free in UK.
Available through email below and local Libraries
2009 * Brentford Dock and Railway |
ISBN 978-0-9540590-5-7 |
I have lived at Brentford Dock for many years and for much of this time have wondered to what extent Isambard Kingdom Brunel was responsible for the Dock. Why did so many people tell me he built it ? What and where was the evidence ? Did Brunel have anything to do with it at all, and if not him, then who ? Why hadn’t someone written a book about it ? Clearly someone ought to — and if possible before the 150th anniversary of its opening on 15th July 1859. It became obvious that it would have to be me
Having learned something of how to write, how to self-publish and done much research, the book was completed in time. I am most grateful to the many who kindly helped. It was soon clear that such a book was long overdue. My most successful enterprise with 100+ pages and 45 illustrations. The second edition is selling steadily. The best (the only) book on Brentford Dock !
p 44 There were three steam engines in the hydraulic engine house
p 63 The Grand Union Canal Co was formed in 1929 by the amalgamation of 8 canal companies operating in London and the Midlands, including the Grand Junction Canal Co. The canal system was nationalised in 1948 and the British Waterways Board formed in 1963. These errors have been corrected in Edition II
Price £7:50 per copy, £5:00 per copy for 5 copies or more, post free in UK. Available through email below and at local outlets including Libraries
* These items can be ordered through
Nielsen’s on-line book ordering service
2002 Seven Mysteries of Brentford. Can you help solve them ? Mystery 3 The Musical Museum has moved from St George's Church to a new purpose-designed building at 399 High Street Brentford |
Those who wish to know about the next publication are referred to my retirement party in May 2009
Others are now investigating Brentford’s history — good luck to them !
Contact me
I can be contacted through the Local Studies Dept at Chiswick Public Library, Brentford & Chiswick Local History Society, Kew Bridge Steam Museum or by
email :: dianawillment@talktalk.net
Links to places, people and organisations
Brentford area |
Societies and organisations |
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Brentford figures |
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