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139 - 143
Hammersmith Road
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Addison
Mansions
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Miscellaneous
Offices
Addison
Mansions, Blythe Road, Hammersmith
There
were a number of miscellaneous buildings, mainly
converted houses, which were used as office space
and which were generally excepted as being part of
the Cadby Hall Estate. One of the largest of these
properties was that known as Addison Mansion. It
occupied a position on the eastern side of Cadby
Hall by the Blythe Road entrance and was formerly a
block of apartments. It is not known when Addison
Mansions was built but a date of 1888 has been
suggested; they certainly appear on an Ordnance
Survey map of 1897 but not an earlier map of 1871.
It did not form part of the Cadby Hall estate when
Lyons bought it in 1894. A Mortgage Charge,
registered at Companies House and dated 1902,
refers to 'certain freehold premises in the Parish
of Hammersmith'. It is possible the this charge was
in respect of Addison Mansions but doubt remains.
Addison Mansions retained its name during the whole
period that Lyons owned it and its conversion to
office space created a rabbits warren of
passageways and stairs. One almost required a map
to navigate its labyrinths. For many years part of
it was a medical centre which included a dentistry
and chiropody department. An ambulance was on
constant vigil should there be a need to transfer
any injured employee to hospital. Senior managers
of the Bakery, Ice Cream, Outdoor Catering and
Export Departments and all had offices there from
time to time. Although the rear of the building was
progressively 'vandalised' with ugly fire stairs,
other external parts were left unchanged and it
maintained its sense of character in what was
otherwise a hotchpotch of factory and office
buildings.
137-143
Hammersmith Road, Hammersmith
These
four large properties, originally private
dwellings, were directly opposite the main Cadby
Hall factory positioned between Edith Road and
Auriol; Road. The first of these properties was
acquired in 1923 but it is not clear when the
adjoining houses were purchased. They, like Addison
Mansions, had been extensively altered and were
honeycombed with corridors and extensions to the
rears. The buildings were mainly occupied by Works
Department Engineers and also a few Construction
Department people, shop-fitters, architects etc.
The Engineers Drawing Office was in a single story
building behind 139. Part of 143 was also used by
Soft Drinks and no doubt there were other
departments who were decanted in and out over the
period Lyons occupied them. Later the Teashop
Shop-fitting Department moved into a building on
the western corner of Edith Road (145 Hammersmith
Road) which later became the Taste Panel. 137-143
Hammersmith Road was disposed of in the 1980s, the
buildings were pulled down, and a large office
block erected on the site.
Avonmore
Road, Hammersmith
Avonmore
Road was positioned directly opposite the Olympia
and ran in a southerly direction from its junction
with Hammersmith Road. It was a tree-lined
residential road and it is known that one or two
residential properties were owned by Lyons and
rented by staff. Further down Avonmore Road, where
it almost meets the railway, was a small
office/store of which nothing is known.
Munden
Street, Hammersmith
Munden
Street was located to the east of Auriol Road and
close to North End Road. It was owned by Normand
Garage where company car fleets (Cadby Hall head
office-based staff) were serviced. There was a
small parking area and several engineers were
employed in the workshops. Body-work repairs were
not undertaken here. Fred Hannington was manager of
the workshop
©
Peter Bird 2005
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