One of West London’s most iconic landmarks, the Gillette Clock Tower, is ticking once more.
The clock was restored to its former glory as part of the Golden Mile Centenary (GM100) celebrations and launched at an opening event on Thursday, 31 July.
The Leader and Deputy Leader at Hounslow Council, Cllrs Shantanu Rajawat and Tom Bruce, joined ward Cllr Aftab Siddiqui, Director at the Vinyl Factory Ltd, Tim Robinson, local people and others, for the celebration.
The much-loved landmark, a striking feature of the Golden Mile skyline, had fallen into disrepair in recent years. But now, thanks to a partnership between Hounslow Council and the Vinyl Factory (the leaseholder of the Gillette Building), the historic clock has been fully renovated and is once again keeping time for the local community.
The restoration was no small feat, taking more than seven months to source and craft specialist parts and enlist skilled clockmakers capable of restoring such a rare timepiece. Some components had to be specially made from scratch to ensure historical accuracy.
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.
For now, the careful restoration of this historic structure, ensures that its Art Deco elegance and neon-lit clock continue to grace the area for generations of Londoners for years to come.
Councillor 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.
Bringing the clock back to life speaks to the spirit of innovation and renewal that has defined the Golden Mile for the last 100 years and will continue to define it for the next 100. I want to thank Vinyl Media for their investment, and local councillors Aftab Siddiqui, Tony Louki and Unsa Chaudri, for their helping to make this restoration a reality.
The Vinyl Factory funded the works as part of its ongoing investment in the site and the Gillette Building’s reputation as a centre for global, creative industry. With recent planning permission to increase from three to nine sound stages, the site is becoming one of West London’s leading film and TV production spaces.
Tim Robinson 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 restored clock tower was officially unveiled as part of the GM100 celebrations, marking 100 years of innovation, heritage and creativity in Hounslow.
