Historic Gillette Clock Tower restored to full glory

Cllr Tom Bruce addressing the audience at the unveiling of the tower

One of west London’s most recognisable landmarks

One of West London’s most iconic landmarks, the Gillette Clock Tower, has been restored to its former glory.

Gillette Corner marks the western end of the Great West Road’s landmark manufacturing sites and office headquarters – the ‘Golden Mile’ of the 1930s, with Art Deco and Modernist design features.

The tower has been restored as part of the Golden Mile Centenary celebrations.

The much-loved landmark had fallen into disrepair in recent years. The work has been done as the result of a partnership between Hounslow Council and the Vinyl Factory, the current leaseholder of the Gillette building.

It took more than seven months to source and craft specialist parts and enlist skilled clockmakers capable of restoring such a rare timepiece.

Cllr Rajawat addressing the audience at the unveiling

Gillette building now home to one of west London’s leading film and TV production spaces

The restored clock tower was unveiled at an event on Thursday 31 July. Speaking for LB Hounslow, Council Leader Shantanu Rajawat said:

“The restoration of the Gillette Clock Tower is a powerful symbol of what the Golden Mile Centenary is all about, honouring our past, celebrating our identity, and looking confidently to the future.

“As one of West London’s most iconic landmarks, the tower stands as a reminder of the area’s rich industrial and wartime history, and a beacon of its ongoing transformation.”

He thanked the Vinyl Factory for investing in the building’s restoration.

Tim Robinson, Director at the Vinyl Factory Ltd, said:

“We are proud to have played our part in restoring such an important landmark. The Gillette Clock Tower is a symbol of West London’s history, and as the building continues its new life as a centre for creative industries, we are committed to preserving its heritage for future generations.”

The Vinyl Factory has recently been given planning permission to increase from three to nine sound stages, making it one of west London’s leading film and TV production spaces.

The Gillette Clock Tower is not just a local landmark; it is an important piece of London’s heritage. Built nearly a century ago, it played a critical role during the Second World War, used as a lookout point to spot planes heading to bomb London.