MarkKelleher

By MarkKelleher

The Barley Mow Centre, Chiswick

It started life as Sanderson’s Wallpaper Factory, built in 1883 as a single storey, then extended to five floors in 1893. It's Grade II* listed now.

Sanderson's was founded 1860 in London by Arthur Sanderson who began by importing French wallpapers before building the Chiswick factory.

The building was rebuilt in 1902, designed by one of the pioneers of modern architecture Charles Voysey. He was also a furniture, textile and wallpaper designer in Arts and Crafts style. His most famous patterns are The Saladin wallpaper 1897, The Owl jacquard-woven woollen cloth 1898, and Alice in Wonderland furnishing fabric 1920. For those in the industry, 'a Voysey wallpaper' is of similar status to a William Morris chintz or a Liberty silk.

Voysey's most famous building design is Broad Leys 1908, which is now the headquarters of the Windermere Motor Boat Racing Club. It's the house in the film The French Lieutenant's Woman.

After Arthur Sanderson died, the business was run by his three sons. They bought another firm in 1927 - Jeffrey & Co, and thereby obtained the original printing blocks for William Morris's wallpaper designs which are still used today.

In 1989, the factory was converted into cool, modern rentable office spaces and has attracted many businesses - and Sam's Brasserie.

Sam Harrison set up Sam's after working at Rick Stein's Seafood Restaurant in Padstow, Cornwall. Mark Baines from Jamie's Fifteen is Head Chef. Yummy.

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