Bid To Save Sarah Trimmer Hall From Redevelopment

Local history experts say it is the UK's last purpose-built Georgian industrial school

Two local historians from Chiswick are campaigning to save the historical Sarah Trimmer Hall in Brentford from redevelopment. The building is thought to be the last, or one of the last, purpose-built Georgian industrial schools in the UK.

Val Bott and James Wisdom of the Brentford & Chiswick Local History Society, have written to Hounslow Council in a bid to save the schoolroom where philanthropist Sarah Trimmer ran an industrial school for girls teaching spinning and craftwork, and Sunday School classes

Sarah Trimmer was an important figure in the history of national educational reform, and was active in the Sunday School movement and in founding schools for the poor. She also gave birth to 12 children.

Under the proposal, the building would be partially demolished and converted in a "destructive and inappropriate scheme", they say, creating 3 small "duplex apartments". Inserted partition walls and floors, changes to windows and new doorways would make it impossible to understand its original function.

See Mrs Trimmer's School (pdf) for an account of The School and Sarah Trimmer, by Val Bott and James Wisdom, on behalf of the Brentford and Chiswick Local History Society, October 2015

St George's church and Trimmer Hall

Val Bott contacted the Director of Regeneration, Economic Development and Environment, Brendon Walsh, at the beginning of January to ask what was happening and to emphasise how important the building is, but received no response until she also contacted the Leader of the Council.

"At a time when Brentford is changing rapidly it really matters that we preserve those things which remind us that it is a town with a proud history", said Val , "and I hope local people will object most strongly now. The building could be profitably converted into an elegant single home, retaining its lofty central hall with upper rooms at each end of the building if only the developers took advice from an experienced conservation architect".

The Brentford Community Council wrote in their objection "The three separate units proposed once again by IDM will effectively destroy the building leaving little more than a façade from the original building.

"The Trimmer School has an unusual and fascinating history and is thought by historians to be the last - or one of the last - industrial schools in England of its time. Please do not let it go the way of the rest of Brentford High Street whose destruction was approved by the Council in the 1950’s!"

Comments on 00607/367/P13 & 00607/367/L1 should be sent to natalie.lynch@hounslow.gov.uk

February 11, 2016