Looking from St. Margarets back towards Brentford - # 08/98

.....we have walked through Bentford canal docks, seen the "Golden Mile", passed through Syon Park with the magnificent glasshouse and rare breed cattle, stopped for an apple pie in the London Apprentice inn, and are now halfway back to Richmond. We take a glance backwards, seeing the old ferry landing-point at Isleworth and in the distance the rising towers of "greyscale" Brentford on the Golden Mile. A tiny world of past and present, and the bit in the middle of that, all in the cup of your hand.

Grey day or sunny day, it's always a good photo.

Cattle in field with oak tree - # 08/91

Traditional, rare breed longhorn cattle (I think they are most likely Scottish Highland Longhorns, but I'm not certain) graze in the parkland of the Duke of Northumberland's great house at Syon, near Isleworth.

This parkland also contains the magnificent glasshouse I showed several days ago.

From Brentford canal docks we cross the River Brent and enter Syon Park. We move from the Industrial Revolution and urban "grey" into the "English Landscape" within little more than 200 metres.

Over the next few days we'll walk from there back along the Thames into Richmond.

Studies in glass 2 - # 08/83

You've already seen this from a slightly different perspective, but I wanted to show this wide-angle shot because it places the glass-house in the Duke of Northumberland's parkland at Syon House firmly into its "English Landscape" setting. You enter the park and come round the bend and... !!!!... there it is!!! It's quite breathtaking to see in this context.

Even more interesting: the Duke's parkland and his great house are on the west bank of the Brent. Here we have "noble magnificence", but immediately opposite on the east bank of the river we have the highly industrial Brentford canal docks. These contrasts make a walking tour even more interesting.

Brentford rising - the Stunner of The Great West Road - # 08/53

Stand at the southern end of the dock basin in the late afternoon and look north. The enormous grey-blue glass mass of the GSK building reflects the afternoon sun. The strange golden towers are the mirrored reflections of the modern office blocks which stand opposite this magnificent glass creation.

I've chosen to show it in the context of the remaining derelict of sheds and a touch of old canal water below, with some tree cover on the right. The very old alongside the ultra modern world-HQ of Glaxo Smith Klein.

For another impression of sky and sunlight on glass see - http://richmonduponthamesdailyphoto.blogspot.com/2007/07/hard-forms-hard-nature-soft-sentiments.html

Camera: Olympus E3

Brentford rising - a walk around the "new dockland" #3 - # 08/52

The 19th C Lock Keeper's Office (naturally, still in regular use) has been carefully refurbished. I admire the human scale and warmth of these 19th C working buildings. It's hard to believe that this architecture was created at a time when the dock area was surrounded by slums and squalor......or are we being misled? Sometimes I'm puzzled. But even our own times also show shameful contrasts.


FreeFalling (a regular visitor) has asked about services and water on the house boats. There are extensive "environmental service" stations all along the canal to provide water, battery charging and sanitary services. Of course most barges use wind and solar power for electrical services. See also "the Coal Lady # 179" http://richmonduponthamesdailyphoto.blogspot.com/2007/07/coal-lady-179.html


Camera: Olympus C7070 WZ

Brentford rising - a walk around the "new dockland" #2 - # 08/51

I have enjoyed my recent walks around the new Canal Harbour that I think it is worth sharing in full. This view is looking East. The stunning "Turner Sunset" was taken from the bridge in the distance.

The grey clouds lit by the late sun, and the golden light on the bricks are spectacular. The water takes on a very special appearance.

This is the "Gauging Dock" where barges were assessed for their cargoes and fees calculated.

Brentford rising - a walk around the "new dockland" #1 - # 08/50

Here is the environment enjoyed by those fortunate enough to live around the Brentford dock basin.

The converted canal boats are surrounded by the apartments designed to look West towards the sunsets. In the background are the remains of some old work shops and sheds, and far back in the mist, the impressive blue glass wall of the GlaxoSmithKline building (more later).

Brentford's gift to the young painter, J.M.W. Turner - # 08/49

Close by the canal dock is a house (now a pub/restaurant called The Weir) where the young Turner lived from 1785-87. Here, inspired by the local countryside and waterways, young Turner started to paint his first water colours. His work is now priceless. Turner was known as "the painter of light" and is regarded as the "Father" of the Impressionist style so wonderfully practised by the great and much loved French painters 100 yrs later.

http://www.j-m-w-turner.co.uk/artist/turner-methods.htm

Imagine my amazement, when, walking a way from the house I turned a corner and was unexpectedly confronted by a stunning sunset reflected as golden light in the waters of the River Brent (now part of the Grand Junction Canal Dock basin).

I have tried to capture that sunset and its reflection in this photograph - a tribute to Turner.

Camera: Olympus C7070 WZ

Brentford rising - #08/48

Turning away from the quaint and quirky we move towards the "urban renewal". The old canal harbour is being transformed into "luxury" apartments and in the distance is the stunning glass creation that houses the giant HQ of GlaxoSmithKline - evidence of "the Knowledge Economy" where once the Smoke Stack ruled (But even that was based on science and knowledge). For the next few days we'll explore "the up-and-coming" Brentford.

(BTW.....there are some unexpected imperfections in this image. The GSK building is a bit fuzzy. Blame me, not the camera. On closer inspection I see that it is "noise"....so do blame the camera.)

Camera: Olympus C7070 WZ

The 2,000 yard Gas Works - # 08/45

Here it is (or was: on this very site). The "Thing" to make you Afraid! The Brentford Gas Works. The Gas Works closed in 1963; at its largest the works covered 8 1/2 acres on both sides of the High Street. The Brentford Gas Company was incorporated by an Act of Parliament in 1821. Its main works lay on either side of Brentford High Street, with a long frontage to the River Thames. Consequently Brentford was one of the first towns to have fully lit streets - the peak of modern city living!

Imagine! Brentford was 1/3 giant Gas Works, 1/3 giant Water Pumping and Filtration Station, 1/3 Canal and Railway Goods Transfer point, and a mass of bad housing for 19th Century manual dock labourers and barge sailors. The "Do-Good Charities" of the 19th Century were tearing their hair out over poverty, child education and schooling and poor health and housing. A town once described as "a paradise", became "the filthiest in England".

Yet on the other side of the river was Richmond, with its royal palaces and accolade as the "most beautiful town in England".

But it's not all bad..........read the official website comments.

http://www.brentfordhighstreet.com/index.php?option=com_mtree&task=listcats&cat_id=57&Itemid=40

http://www.brentfordhighstreet.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=47

Back to Brentford's "Golden Age" - # 08/44

This house, like the other I showed is also in The Butts, and probably dates from about 1700 (I'm taking an educated guess - so forgive me). Throughout the 18th C the town became busier and busier because of its good strategic location on the main road from London to the West (and it still is!). River transport of agricultural goods and even fishing brought wealth, and it seems that barges brought barley, and so beer brewing was also "big money". In 1805 the Grand Junction Canal arrived and "technology and transport of goods" drove the town downhill from then on. Tomorrow you will see the remains of why it became "the filthiest place in England"...............Be afraid! Be very afraid!

Brentford anno 1680- # 08/42

I've already said that the 19th C was not kind to Brentford, but around 1680 this was the delightful square that formed the centre of the town and there were said to be shops as fine as the best you will find in London. It's hard to believe that in 1873 the local newspaper declared that "Brentford [was] the filthiest place in England".

Today the square is often used by film companies seeking an authentic "olde worlde" setting.

Out of the docks and into the town - # 08/37

For anyone interested in contemplating the effect of light on water and metal, or the photographer or urban artist interested in textures and the "hard and soft", Brentford offers plenty of opportunities.

By the way....at this very spot in 1642, 1,400 Parliamentarian troops defended the bridge (top right corner glimpse) against 4,600 attacking Royalist soldiers. An 3 day action took place involving infantry, field guns, and guns mounted on barges sailed along the Thames. The Royalists broke through but were stopped about 3 miles further on at Turnham Green.

Your private world? Your choice - # 08/36

So which would you choose? A barge on the main Thames river channel, or something locked deep inside this 200 yr old canal wharf, surrounded by the "old stuff" and the encroaching saplings and bushes?

Your benefit will be the wonderful impact of the sunset hitting the derelict building and reflecting back into the water. The basin faces south, so you are assured of some extra warmth at noon. But those English Novembers and Februaries are sure to be rather damp.

I took several snaps trying to catch the golden reflection, the shadows and the shining mud, and the green mould on the bricks. It was hard to capture it all, but this version makes the point. The colourful barges always help. But I fear it's less romantic than it looks.

Camera: Olympus C7070 WZ

Angles, textures nooks and crannies - # 08/35

As we wander deeper into the old Brentford canal docklands we encounter narrow alleys and bridges over dock entrances. We see light and shadow, weeds, wire, metal, wood, bricks and mud. We see the hard and the soft and the passage of 200 years. It's a walk back in time and an urban historian's delight.

Camera: Olympus E3

Back to 1805 - # 08/34

Moving from the Thames riverside into the old canal docks we come to the weir where the overflow from the canal pours out. The junk of ages can be seen in the mud. Very old sheds are still in use and the repair yard is thriving and full of work converting old Dutch motor barges into floating homes. On the other side the huge area that became a railway cargo terminal in 1849 is now a housing estate built in the 1960s/70s when the dereliction was cleared.

The "Industrial Age" brought great wealth to Britain, but for Brentford it was a mixed blessing.

Stop here for a great canal-side walk - # 08/31

"Goat Wharf": what a name to conjure with! It immediately calls up dark mysteries and tales of "the Olden Days". This is THE bus stop for your entrance into the old canal docks of Brentford - a photographer's delight.

The ultimate throw-away image - # 08/29

Before we move gently away from the river and into the old docks and then up into the town, I think you might enjoy this. At this spot there are layers upon layers of junked boats and their insides. Strange but true (and, No, before you ask, It doesn't smell!)

Brentford support system - # 08/28

Brrr...at last I'm back on line after 24 hrs of enforced cold turkey. So this one is appropriate.

After last night's darkest black, looking backwards to Lili Marlene, we can dive back into some colour and do the "shapes, diagonals and structures". There is a lot more ironwork left in Brentford.

Camera: Olympus E3

Wie einst Lili Marlen - # 08/27

"Wenn sich die spaeten Nebel drehn werd' ich bei der Laterne steh'n, wie einst Lili Marlen".

(When the night time mists are swirling I will stand in the lamplight as once I did so long ago, my dear Lili Marlen).

"Your sweet face seems to haunt my dreams my Lilly of the Lamplight, my own Lilly Marlene".

Here is my own Lilly Marlene, bathed in her lamplight, captured in the night time shadows of Brentford. (Her inspiration would now be about 86).

(Thanks for all the kind comments yesterday. My internet connection has a serious fault. I am working on a neighbour's machine so cannot visit you directly).