Brentford Goes Back In Time

In celebration of BBC "Turn Back Time: The High Street"

In celebration of the BBC’s new series, "Turn Back Time: The High Street", buildings across Hounslow have introduced exhibitions looking back at shopping from the Victorian era to the present day.

Exhibits are on display at four of the borough libraries: Brentford, Chiswick, Feltham and Hounslow.

Brentford Library and Chiswick Library showcase their respective high streets in the past, whilst the displays at both Hounslow Library and Feltham Libraries focus on the central and western part of the borough.

While you are out Christmas shopping, why not pop into one of the four libraries and see how the High Street looked before the appearance of the chain stores and supermarkets we see today.  There are also several books of old photographs available to buy as a Christmas present or to borrow.

The exhibitions are free and will be on display until the end of the year.  If you have any artefacts or photographs to add to the collection, pop into Brentford, Chiswick, Feltham or Hounslow library to donate them.

These displays are now also available, in a simpler format, on the library service website at:

http://www.hounslow.info/libraries/localstudies/high-street-history-brentford-chiswick.htm
http://www.hounslow.info/libraries/localstudies/high-street-history-hounslow-feltham.htm

Cllr Pritam Grewal, Hounslow’s executive member for Leisure and Wellbeing said:

“Brentford High Street was chosen by the BBC due to the fact is has the least generic High Street in London with the fewest chain stores. What better way to celebrate the borough’s participation in the show than to celebrate the history of four towns in Hounslow and look back at how far they have developed from the Victorian era.

December 1, 2010