Where the River Brent flows into the Thames west of London lies the suburb of Brentford. Its name is a clue to the origins of what was once a small settlement pre-dating the Roman occupation of the country. Today, like many London suburbs, it has interesting pockets of history squeezed between more recent and not always attractive developments. In recent years it has seen more development with smart apartment blocks springing up by the Thames and along the banks of the Brent in what has become known as Brentford Dock.
Although a relatively small suburb it has a successful football club (currently playing in the Premier League), and several historical links, one of which at least is apocryphal. It is claimed that Julius Cæsar crossed the Thames here during his invasion of Britain in 54 BC and fought a battle nearby. The only evidence for this was Caesar’s reference to a fortification with sharp spikes, some of which were found at the river side in the early twentieth century. No excavations have been undertaken that might support the claim.
However, other ‘claims to fame’ are substantiated. The Battle of Brentford was fought here during the English Civil War, with Prince Rupert leading a Royalist detachment to victory. An earlier battle here saw Cnut, invading the country from Denmark, defeated by Edmund Ironsides, although this setback didn’t prevent Cnut from eventually winning the kingdom.
Syon House, the Greater London residence of the Duke of Northumberland, lies mostly within Brentford’s boundaries and is a beautiful example of the work of Robert Adam. Its park and garden are favourite places for locals to walk.
Exploring Brentford
And talking of walks … For this week’s Lens Artist challenge Tina has asked us to share our neighbourhood. I’ve shared so many images of my own home suburb of Ealing over the years that I thought for a change I would show you our neighbour to the south. Although we visit less often, it was a favourite area for walking during Covid lockdowns as we could reach the Thames here. And we continue to visit Syon Park frequently as it has the best garden centre in the area. So here are some images of Brentford, many taken during those Covid walks.
Click on any image in each gallery to open a slideshow with captions
The Thames in Brentford
History and development
Syon House and garden
43 Comments
Annie Berger
Thank you for introducing me to Brentford as I’d never heard of it before. I smiled at your comment about how you may have oversold it as Steven often says my photos make some places appear to be far more attractive than they really are!
Sarah Wilkie
Haha yes – it’s tempting to only show the better side of a place 😄 Why would I take photos of dull suburban houses and shops?!
Alison
It’s great to see other neighbourhoods, especially the good bits! I would like to visit Syon House one day.
Sarah Wilkie
Syon is definitely worth the trip out to Brentford, the rest probably not 😀
leightontravels
Wow… I knew next to nothing about Brentford before reading this. In fact, my knowledge was strictly limited to its football team, which I often look at and sigh thinking about how much a small club, if well-run, can flourish. Why can’t QPR do this? I think for me the Turner aspect alone would necessitate a visit. The neighbourhood looks lovely with Syon House, its garden and that handsome stretch of Thames.
Sarah Wilkie
The Turner link is a small one, limited really to that plaque, but Syon alone definitely makes the area worth a visit. Although Newcastle is our team, we have a soft spot for Brentford and always liked seeing them do well – until, of course, they joined us in the Premier League!
Leya
Lovely. Sion would be a visit for me, and I love your photos of it. Turner – I love Turner’s paintings, and once I wrote a thesis where I compared Turner’s paintings with the landscapes described by T. Hardy in Tess of the d’Urbervilles. I still remember the joy of that task! Lovely post, and I loved especially your opener and the tiles.
Sarah Wilkie
That sounds like an interesting thesis. I tend to associate Turner more with his seascapes but he did paint some atmospheric landscapes too. More though in Italy I think?
Monkey's Tale
A lot of history went through this small area. Your first river shot is lovely and the Syon Gardens look perfect for a nice walk. Maggie
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Maggie. Yes, Syon is lovely for a walk – a path leads right around the pretty lake 😀
Teresa
Such a peaceful place, Sarah. So much to see as well. Love it.
Sarah Wilkie
Glad you enjoyed it Teresa 😀 It has its peaceful spots, like Syon, but is quite a busy suburb on the whole.
restlessjo
Like Anabel I’d heard of Syon House but didn’t know where it was. More or less Kew Gardens territory, but not so upmarket? Was there ever a ford, do you know, Sarah? (and I don’t mean the motors). There often is a connection with a name ending that way.
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, near Kew {opposite side of the river} and definitely less upmarket by some way! There was indeed a ford, over the Brent where it runs into the Thames.
grandmisadventures
Looks like a very lovely and peaceful area. I love the glass top garden! 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
If it looks lovely and peaceful I’ve probably oversold Brentford 😆 But it has its good points and quieter areas, and Syon Park is a gem!
Anabel Marsh
I have heard of Syon House but didn’t know where it was. To me the word Brentford will always be associated with Nylons so it’s nice to know something else about it!
Sarah Wilkie
Syon is lovely and worth a visit 🙂 As for Brentford Nylons, apparently they started near here (in Chiswick). I remember their not very pleasant fitted nylon sheets! And my father in law worked in their north east factory, but before I knew him.
Sofia Alves
Thank you for the tour, Sarah. I love the tiles photo (they are gorgeous and your composition is wonderful), the mural is spectacular. Syon is worth a visit, I’d love to see inside it.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Sofia, I’m glad you like those tiles 🙂 I’ll definitely show you all the inside of Syon House one day!
Leanne Cole
Wow, that looks like an amazing place to ignore. It must have an amazing history. Fantastic neighbourhood for exploring, thank you for showing us around.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Leanne 😀 On the surface Brentford looks like just another London suburb, but in truth most of our suburbs have some interesting history if you dig deep enough, and many have their attractive spots among often rather duller residential developments.
Rose
Such lovely images of the Brentford neighborhood. I can see why you visit Syon Gardens; the Conservatory is beautiful. When I read the sign on the pub about William Turner the artist, I wondered if the character, Will Turner, in “Pirates of the Caribbean” was named after him? His painting “The Fighting Temeraire” would certainly lend itself to the theme of the sea (and pirates).
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Rose 🙂 That’s an interesting thought about Will Turner. The artist’s full name was Joseph Mallord William Turner but I believe he used just William while alive. He certainly did paint many paintings of the sea!
Egídio
Such a beautiful location, Sarah. The Syon house and garden photos are my favorite. That place looks like a wonderful place to spend a lazy afternoon.
Sarah Wilkie
Glad you like the look of Syon Egidio, it’s a beautiful location and yes, you can easily spend an afternoon there 🙂
thehungrytravellers.blog
And isn’t another claim to fame that Brentford is the furthest reach of the tides from the estuary? Or am I remembering wrongly? Here’s a very little known fact about Brentford. At one point in my life I had a rather pompous, ineffective boss who had a habit of upsetting clients and putting off potential ones. One time, he insisted on accompanying me to a meeting in Brentford where I had high hopes of winning a lucrative deal. I was convinced he’d scupper my chances, so when I gave his secretary details of where to meet me before the meeting, I “accidentally” said Brentwood instead of Brentford. And then I am thoroughly ashamed to say, I blamed the secretary for the error. Sometimes the end justifies the means…..
Sarah Wilkie
So I’m assuming you got the deal?! But no, the Thames is tidal as far as Teddington Lock, quite a bit further upstream.
thehungrytravellers.blog
I stand corrected. And yes I did 😀👍
Anonymous
Good to see Brentford featuring. I used to love the arts centre but it then seemed to peter out. Yes, sweet thames flows softly through these ancient fords. Actually in North Acton and visiting north Londoners on this trip. But will make it back to my West London haunts by the river!
Sarah Wilkie
I really wish you’d added your name to this comment ‘anonymous’! I gather you know Brentford? Yes, the Watermans Arts Centre has closed but there are plans for a new cinema and other facilities within the big new development, I gather.
Anne Sandler
Thank you for the photo tour and history Sarah!
Sarah Wilkie
Good to have you along Anne 🙂
Tanja
Looks nice.
Toonsarah
Thanks Tanja, it has its good spots!
margaret21
Well. It’s never occurred to me to visit Brentford. I’ve been missing out!
Toonsarah
Well Syon is certainly worth a visit (I must share the interior some time) but otherwise I wouldn’t go out of my way!
Tina Schell
It’s always interesting to those of us in the U.S. (well to me anyway!) when a city’s description begins with a city’s “occupation by the Romans”. I suppose there’s a chance we had some native Americans here back then but I doubt it!! The term “history” definitely has a different meaning for places that go so far back! Your meander through a nearby place was lovely even if we don’t photograph the less “bucolic” areas. This one seems to have some really lovely spots. A perfect covid-era getaway!
Toonsarah
Yes, our documented history certainly goes back a lot further than yours! Most if not all London suburbs (and Brentford is just a suburb) will had Romans around at some point as they quite quickly established Londinium as their capital. Thanks for giving me a reason to share this largely unvisited place.
bushboy
I would walk there more often as it is quite pretty
Sarah Wilkie
Parts are pretty, especially by the river, but the walk to get there isn’t so great – just a straight and rather dull main road!
I. J. Khanewala
The odd lack of people is explained.
Sarah Wilkie
I’m not sure I understand? There are no people featured in my shots but plenty live in Brentford