The Brentford Towers are on historic land leading back to the civil war, which saw the Battle of Brentford in 1642, between the Royalist Army and the Parliamentarians.

The Royalists, who were leading an advance on London along the Thames Valley, were victorious under the command of Prince Rupert.

The fight saw 170 killed or wounded and 400 captured, with a large number of men drowned while trying to escape their pursuers by swimming across the Thames.

Brentford would have been a small town some 8 miles from the capital.

Fast forward in time and the Brentford Towers were officially opened on 15 October, 1971.

At this time, the site was known as the Brentford Waterworks Housing Estate, as they were built on land that had been used as filter beds and reservoirs for the Kew Bridge Waterworks.

Each tower block was therefore given a name connected to the history of the waterworks site, which they still have today.

The Brentford Towers Residents' Association currently has a partnership with the London Museum of Water & Steam, working to ensure these historic links remain.

Story behind the names

BOULTON HOUSE

Matthew Boulton (1728-1809) was a businessman, interested in science and engineering. In 1775 he began working with James Watt, a Scottish scientist and inventor who built steam engines. Together they made pumping engines for mines and mills, and became famous all over the world. One of the first engines at the Kew Bridge Works was built by Boulton & Watt for the Chelsea Works of the Grand Junction Company but was moved to Kew in 1839.

MAUDSLAY HOUSE

Henry Maudslay (1771-1831) was founded the firm of Maudslay Sons & Field. A 'Maudslay Sons and Field' engine was the first to pump water at Kew Bridge Waterworks in 1838. It could pump 8 million litres of water every day.

HARVEY HOUSE

In 1871 'Harvey & Co' built the '100" Cornish Beam Engine' for the Kew Bridge Waterworks. Capable of pumping 34.2 million litres of water everyday, it was so large that the engine house had to be doubled in size before it would t.

CORNISH HOUSE

Cornish was the name given to a type of steam powered engine originally built to pump water out of Cornish mines. Cornish steam engines used less fuel but produced more steam pressure, making them more powerful and cheaper to use than any other steam engine at the time. They were so successful that other businesses started to use them, including water pumping stations like the one at Kew Bridge.

FRASER HOUSE

Alexander Fraser was an engineer who designed the standpipe tower at the Kew Bridge Waterworks. The Tower is still a landmark standing nearly 200 feet high. It was built in 1861 after severe frost early that year had damaged the old standpipe.

WICKSTEED HOUSE

Thomas Wicksteed (1806-1871) was another engineer who, between 1837 – 1845, installed Cornish steam engines at waterworks across the country, including at Kew Bridge. There are three Cornish steam engines on display at the London Museum of Water & Steam.