Travelling West out of London on the A40 you might have driven past The Hoover building, a wonderful example of Art Deco. The design is not one we think of when looking at a factory. Built by Wallis, Gilbert and partners between 1931 and 1933 as a vacuum cleaner factory.
1600 people worked here producing vacuum cleaners most of which were sold by door-to-door salesmen.
During WW2 the building was camouflaged and made not only vacuum cleaners but also parts for aircraft.
After the war business boomed and the factory was employing 3000 people.
By the 1970s business was down until eventually the factory closed in 1982. Tesco supermarkets bought the site in 1989, restoring the building before reopening it at the rear as a supermarket.
The inside of the supermarket is the same as any other Tesco supermarket.
Next to the main building is this later addition which was the canteen. This has also been restored and is now an Asian restaurant, Nawaab.
1600 people worked here producing vacuum cleaners most of which were sold by door-to-door salesmen.
By the 1970s business was down until eventually the factory closed in 1982. Tesco supermarkets bought the site in 1989, restoring the building before reopening it at the rear as a supermarket.
What an elegant building!
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I remember door to door salesmen selling vacuum cleaners!!
ReplyDeleteThe good thing is it has been saved and still used
ReplyDeleteThat's the nicest looking factory building I've ever seen.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting - I used to own a very old Hoover - maybe it was made right there in that fabulous art-décor building
ReplyDeleteInteresting evolution of the building … great that it was able to maintain its lovely deco style. That’s what makes it special. Was there anyone who didn't own a Hoover vacuum at some point?
ReplyDeleteGood of them to save that fabulous building!
ReplyDeleteArt deco beauty.
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw your title I thought it was a building here in the US though I had no clue where. I didn't realize Hoover vacuums were from England. Neat looking building. Glad to see it repurposed.
ReplyDeleteI love the creative shots of the various views of the building ~ thanks,
ReplyDeleteWishing you a special week ~ ^_^
Terrific it is and probably does not cost much more to build than a more conventional factory. You might look to Google photos of Ford Factory, Geelong, Australia for one of our own fine factory buildings. As we are no longer making cars in Australia, I wonder what will happen to the building.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are superb. A very interesting post. Mother had a Hoover!
ReplyDeleteThe inside may look like any other Tesco, but the outside is absolutely beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThats a great building - style and substance I assume.
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
What a fantastic building, love all the details!
ReplyDeleteI love learning about all these buildings, and especially about their history. :-)
ReplyDeleteI would imagine it's listed but I'm glad to see its features have been maintained. We didn't have a "Hoover" but we always seemed to refer to ours as a hoover rather than a vacuum cleaner, such was the strength of the brand at one time.
ReplyDeleteOh, I often used to drive past the Hoover Building. There used to be many art-deco factories and household names along there. I had no idea it was a Tesco now.
ReplyDeleteWonderful example of an Art Deco building. Had no idea H lover was from England...
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful example of utilitarian Art Deco and it certainly doesn't look like a factory. I didn't realize Hoovers were made in England. Friends of mine had a dog named Hoover -- because he cleaned up anything dropped to the floor like a vacuum cleaner.
ReplyDeleteSo interesting -- glad they kept the outside as it was.... I remember door-to-door vacuum salesmen (one spilled dirt on my mother's carpet on purpose and then vacuumed it up as a demo -- she about had a heart attack .... you wouldn't even notice the extra dirt on mine probably). I still know people who call their vacuum a 'Hoover' even if it is a different brand.
ReplyDeleteI worked here as a security guard when tesco bought it .they spent a fortune removing asbesdos that has brought back some memories ty
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