Brent
Explore hidden histories, historic photos, and things you never knew about Brent from the collections and archives of Historic England.
Discover your local listed buildings and places
Introducing some of Brent's most historic sites, included in the National Heritage List for England. Some of these captions have been summarised by AI. Click through for the official List entry.
Stonebridge School, Including Former Caretaker's House, P…
Brent
Primary school. Built 1899-1900 by Willesden School Board, Middlesex, to the design of GET Laurence.
Roundwood Park
Brent
Roundwood Park, laid out in the late 19th century by Oliver Claude Robson, features lawns, mature trees, a rockery, and a viewing hill, reflecting historical recreational park design.
Burial enclosures of Mayer, Juliana and Hannah Rothschild…
Brent
The tombs and burial enclosures of Baron Mayer Amschel de Rothschild (1818-1874) and Juliana de Rothschild (1831-1877), and of Hannah Primrose, Countess of Rosebery (1851-1890), in Willesden...
Tomb of Rosalind Franklin
Brent
The tomb of Rosalind Franklin, dated 1958, in the Willesden United Synagogue Cemetery (Willesden Jewish Cemetery).
Roman Catholic Church of St Joseph
Brent
The Roman Catholic Church of St Joseph, Wembley, is a post-war church in a loosely neo-Georgian style with Romanesque influences, built 1955-57 to designs by Reynolds and Scott.
Sudbury Town Underground Station
Brent
Underground railway station, 1930-1 by Charles Holden. Minor later alterations.
Wembley Fire Station
Brent
Fire station, 1937-9, for Wembley Urban District Council. With post-war third storey extension, single storey extension to rear of 1996 and other later alterations.
Willesden Jewish Cemetery (United Synagogue Cemetery)
Brent
Willesden Jewish Cemetery (United Synagogue Cemetery), established by the United Synagogue in 1873, and designed by Nathan Solomon Joseph; the cemetery was expanded in 1890, 1906 and 1925-6.
Memorial sculpture group ‘to the memory of prisoners of w…
Brent
Memorial sculpture group 'to the memory of prisoners of war and victims of concentration camps 1914–1945', c1967-69 by Fred Kormis, sited at Gladstone Park, Dollis Hill.
Church of the Ascension
Brent
Anglican church, 1957 by J Harold Gibbons with Derrick Humphrys and Reginald Hurst.
Tomb of Max Eberstadt, Willesden Jewish Cemetery (United …
Brent
Tomb of Max Eberstadt, 1891, designed by Edward Burne-Jones, in Willesden Jewish Cemetery.
War Memorial, Willesden Jewish Cemetery
Brent
War memorial, erected in 1961 by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and designed by Ralph Hobday, the CWGC's senior architect.
Monument to James Edward Andrews, Kensal Green Cemetery
Brent
Portland stone funerary monument, c.1841.
Paddington Cemetery
Brent
One of the first public cemeteries to be opened after the Metropolitan Interment Act of 1850, designed by Thomas Little in 1855.
Brent through time
This timeline shows the first period of use for buildings and places on the National Heritage List for England, just one of the details recorded for every list entry. Click around to see how Brent changes over time.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Aerial photos of Brent
Aerial photography helps reveal secrets of England's changing landscapes that are impossible to see from the ground.
Wembley Park
Wembley Park and Wembley Hill Railway Station, Wembley Park, 1921
Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium, London, 1987
Kingsbury
Factories and school building (former AIRCO offices) on the Hyde (Edgware Road), Kingsbury, 1925
Queensbury
The Frigidaire Refrigerator Works between Stag Lane and Edgware Road, Queensbury, 1953
Park Royal
The Mono Service Containers factory, Park Royal Football Ground and environs, Park Royal, 1930
Park Royal
The Guinness Brewery, Park Royal, 1950
Lower Place
The Central Middlesex Hospital on Acton Lane, Lower Place, 1949
Lower Place
The Central Middlesex Hospital on Acton Lane, Lower Place, 1949
Stonebridge
The Heinz Food Production Works, Stonebridge, 1928
Stonebridge
The Heinz Food Production Factory, Stonebridge, 1938
Brent in the Historic England Archive
The Historic England Archive cares for over 15 million images, dating from the 1850s to the present day. Discover stunning images of Brent's past.
John Gay Collection: London
Church End, Brent, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1965
General view of the cooling towers of the power station at Church End, Harlesden through pollarded trees with corrugated iron fencing and wasteland in...
John Laing Collection
Brent, Greater London Authority
Date created: 22 Jun 1962
J Gregg shaking hands with Sir John Laing at a long service and retirement presentation held in Wembley Town Hall
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Willesden, Brent, Greater London Authority
Date created: 01 Jan 1900 - 17 Sep 1910
GENERAL VIEW
John Gay Collection: London
Harlesden, Brent, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1965
General view of the cooling towers of the power station at Church End, Harlesden at night from the west from Crouch Road, with E J Jones, Grocers shop...
John Laing Collection
Brent, Greater London Authority
Date created: 24 Jun 1966
M J Rylatt receiving a retirement presentation from Sir Maurice Laing during a long service and retirement presentation held in Brent Town Hall
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Willesden, Brent, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1900 - 1930
GENERAL VIEW FROM THE TERRACE
John Gay Collection: London
Harlesden, Brent, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1965
General view of the cooling towers of the power station at Church End, Harlesden at night from the west from Crouch Road, with E J Jones, Grocers shop...
John Laing Collection
Brent, Greater London Authority
Date created: 24 Jun 1966
I A McMinn receiving a retirement presentation from Sir Maurice Laing during a long service and retirement presentation held in Brent Town Hall
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Brent, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1900 - 1905
VIEW SHOWING HARROW DUCKERS
John Gay Collection: London
Harlesden, Brent, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1965
A gantry over the railway line at Harlesden with the steaming cooling towers of the power station to the south of Harlesden Station behind
John Laing Collection
Brent, Greater London Authority
Date created: 26 Jun 1970
Joe Hornsby, Bob Spencer and Malcolm McKinnon having tea at a long service and retirement presentation for Laing staff at Brent Town Hall
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Dollis Hill, Brent, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1905 - 1913
GENERAL VIEW SHOWING BANDSTAND
Stories about heritage in your local area
Historic England publishes news, blogs, research, videos, and podcasts celebrating England's rich heritage. Discover the stories we have about Brent.
12 Things to Know About the ‘Austerity Games’: The 1948 London Olympics
Mentions Wembley Arena (Formerly the Empire Pool)
Find out more about the cash-strapped London Olympic Games of 1948.
What is a Tin Tabernacle?
Mentions Cambridge Hall, Kilburn
Pre-fabricated churches, often called ‘iron churches’, ‘iron chapels’ or ‘tin tabernacles’, were developed in the mid-19th century.
A Brief Introduction to Jewish Cemeteries
Mentions Tomb of Max Eberstadt, Willesden Jewish Cemetery (United Synagogue Cemetery), Willesden Jewish Cemetery (United Synagogue Cemetery)
Jewish burial grounds existed in Medieval England but were lost after the expulsion of the Jews in 1290.
6 Memorials to Animals in the First World War
Mentions 10, Cambridge Avenue NW6
Millions of animals were used both in warfare and on the home front during the First World War.
Value of Heritage-led Regeneration for England’s High Streets Revealed by New Independent Evaluation
Mentions Brent
Led by Historic England, the High Street Heritage Action Zone programme unlocked the potential of 67 historic high streets across England.
Rare Phone Boxes Listed on the London Underground
Mentions K8 Kiosk at Northwick Park Station
Four rare K8 phone boxes on the London Underground network have been listed at Grade II.
High Streets Heritage Action Zones’ Cultural Programme Awards £6 Million Grants
Mentions Brent
Over 60 High Streets Heritage Action Zones will receive grants totalling £6 million going to local arts organisations for community-led activities.
Public asked to help record a week in lockdown
Mentions Brent
We are calling on you to share images that document your experience of seven days in "Lockdown"
New Listings Announced to Celebrate 70 Years of Protecting England's Historic Buildings
Mentions Complex of Funerary Buildings at Willesden Jewish Cemetery (United Synagogue Cemetery)
New listings mark 70th anniversary of the listed building system
Groundbreaking Women of Science Celebrated
Mentions Tomb of Rosalind Franklin
Historic England and The Royal Society celebrate International Women’s Day by bringing to light the exceptional achievements of female scientists
Brent's social history through photos
Over 10,000 images from the Historic England Archive have been specially selected and re-captioned for teachers, students, and anyone who wants to learn more about their local area.
Wembley Stadium, Brent, London
Period: 1920s (1920 - 1929)
Wembley Stadium was built in 1922-3 for the British Empire Exhibition. It became the national football stadium and held the FA Cup final from 1923.
Wembley Stadium, Brent, London
Wembley Arena (Empire Pool), Empire Way, Brent, Greater London
Period: 1930s (1930 - 1938)
Now known as Wembley Arena this building was built in 1933-4 as the Empire Pool. It was built by Sir Owen Williams.
Wembley Arena (Empire Pool), Empire Way, Brent, Greater London
Tomb of Marc Isambard and Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Chelsea, Greater London
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
Tomb of Sir Marc Isambard Brunel, his son Isambard Kingdom Brunel and other family members.
Tomb of Marc Isambard and Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Chelsea, Greater London
St Andrew's Hospital, Dollis Hill, Westminster, Greater London
Period: World War One (1914 - 1919)
The hospital was built by the Diocese of Westminster in 1912 for paying patients.
St Andrew's Hospital, Dollis Hill, Westminster, Greater London
Power Station, North Acton, Ealing, Greater London
Period: 1960s (1960 - 1969)
A gantry over the railway line at Harlesden with the steaming cooling towers of the power station to the south of Harlesden Station behind
Power Station, North Acton, Ealing, Greater London
Old St Andrew's Mansions, Old Church Lane, Brent, Greater London
Period: 1930s (1930 - 1938)
These two pairs of flats were built in 1936 by Ernest George Trobridge. The style of architecture is very unusual.
Old St Andrew's Mansions, Old Church Lane, Brent, Greater London
Odeon Cinema, Wakemans Hill Parade, Colindale, London
Period: 1930s (1930 - 1938)
The Odeon on Edgware Road opened in 1935 and closed in 1960.
Odeon Cinema, Wakemans Hill Parade, Colindale, London
Kilburn Lane Board School, Kilburn Lane, West Kilburn, Greater London
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
Interior of the carpenters shop showing students at work.
Kilburn Lane Board School, Kilburn Lane, West Kilburn, Greater London
