London furniture factory that built planes for both world wars: Amazing images show women and boys making aircraft wings... 



  • Women and young boys started making planes in the Hammersmith factory Waring & Gillow at the onset of WWI 
  • It also played a crucial role in WWII producing Mosquito bombers - the fastest aircraft in the world at the time
  • The building was featured in Alfred Hitchcock's 1936 film Secret Agent as a Swiss chocolate factory 



When John Waring and Robert Gillow set up their furniture business in 1903, little did they know that one day their factory would help Britain win both world wars.
Their factory in Hammersmith, west London, was used to manufacture cabinets and other high-end furnishings but all that changed at the outbreak of the First World War - when they instead started producing aircraft.  
These amazing photographs show women and boys hard at work as they put together biplanes and triplanes. 
And years later, the Waring & Gillow factory would also make the iconic Mosquito light bomber, which was put to devastating effect in the Second World War. 
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The fine furniture company Waring & Gillow in Hammersmith, West London, played a crucial role in both world wars after it began producing aircraft to aid the home front. It has now been remodelled and developed into an office complex
During the First World War, the factory saw the production of biplanes (pictured), and triplanes, which had three vertically stacked wings. Triplanes, which became  popular during this time, were used by both sides of the war
During the First World War, the factory saw the production of biplanes (pictured), and triplanes, which had three vertically stacked wings. Triplanes, which became popular during this time, were used by both sides of the war
Women and young boys paint aeroplane wings in the factory in Hammersmith, west London in 1916
Women and young boys paint aeroplane wings in the factory in Hammersmith, west London in 1916
The factory produced biplanes, which were modelled after the box kite. Biplanes became popular during WWI when monoplanes were withdrawn from military service after a number of structural failures
The factory produced biplanes, which were modelled after the box kite. Biplanes became popular during WWI when monoplanes were withdrawn from military service after a number of structural failures
The British air services had only 272 machines in action at the start of WWI, but by 1918 the newly formed RAF could call on 22,000 aircraft
The British air services had only 272 machines in action at the start of WWI, but by 1918 the newly formed RAF could call on 22,000 aircraft
Females who worked before WWI were usually employed by textile companies, but by 1918, almost a million women were employed in munitions manufacturing
Females who worked before WWI were usually employed by textile companies, but by 1918, almost a million women were employed in munitions manufacturing
The Hammersmith factory focused on civilian aircraft after WWI, producing the P.2 Seabird, which set the record for the longest non-stop flight in 1919 from London to Madrid, taking seven and a half hours
The Hammersmith factory focused on civilian aircraft after WWI, producing the P.2 Seabird, which set the record for the longest non-stop flight in 1919 from London to Madrid, taking seven and a half hours
The  factory, featured in Hitchcock's Secret Agent
The factory, featured in Hitchcock's Secret Agent
The company was created after Gillow and Waring merged their respective mahogany and cabinet-making businesses. 
At the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, powered aircraft flight was just over a decade old and the British air services had only 272 machines in action.
But as the home effort picked up, manufacturers were mobilised and by 1918 the newly formed RAF could call on 22,000 aircraft. 
The Waring & Gillow factory had transformed into the Alliance Aeroplane Company towards the end of the First World War.
After the war, the factory focused on civilian aircraft, producing the P2 Seabird which set the record for the longest non-stop flight in 1919 from London to Madrid, taking seven and a half hours.
The factory briefly housed a Renault garage in the 1930s, before it returned to manufacturing planes when the Second World War broke out.
It produced parts for the iconic Mosquito light bomber, the fastest aircraft at the time with a top speed of 397mph.
The building was also featured in Alfred Hitchcock's 1936 film Secret Agent, which follows three British agents who are assigned to assassinate a German spy during WWI. 
It appeared as a chocolate factory in the film, with Nestle providing staff and machinery as extras for the production. 
The building briefly housed a Renault garage in the 1930s, before it returned to  aircraft manufacturing during WWII. Above, workers building plane parts during WWI
The building briefly housed a Renault garage in the 1930s, before it returned to aircraft manufacturing during WWII. Above, workers building plane parts during WWI
The furniture company specialised in fine, luxury pieces. This drawing room cabinet features intricate details featuring various woods, gilding and lacquered brass
During the Second World War, the factory returned to aircraft production. It helped produce parts of the iconic Mosquito light bomber, the fastest aircraft at the time with a top speed of 397mph
The furniture company specialised in fine, luxury pieces like this drawing room cabinet (left). During the Second World War, the factory produced parts of the iconic Mosquito light bomber (file picture right), the fastest aircraft at the time
DH9 bombers ready for delivery are loaded on trucks outside the west London factory in a picture taken around 1918
DH9 bombers ready for delivery are loaded on trucks outside the west London factory in a picture taken around 1918
Regular production was suspended in many factories as resources were redirected towards the war effort. The company's upholstery department ended up making kit-bags, tents and camouflage nets during WWII. Above, the factory at some point during the Great War
Regular production was suspended in many factories as resources were redirected towards the war effort. The company's upholstery department ended up making kit-bags, tents and camouflage nets during WWII. Above, the factory at some point during the Great War
Two men transport large amounts of lumber stacked outside the factory on Cambridge Grove, Hammersmith
Two men transport large amounts of lumber stacked outside the factory on Cambridge Grove, Hammersmith
Women in the carpentry workshop  in a photo believed to have been taken towards the end of the First World War
Women are pictured working in the carpentry workshop in a photo believed to have been taken towards the end of the First World War
The Waring & Gillow factory eventually transformed into the Alliance Aeroplane Company 
The Waring & Gillow factory eventually transformed into the Alliance Aeroplane Company 
The factory has recently been developed, and the building, which will officially open in January, has been named The Aircraft Factory to honour Waring & Gillow's heritage.
Dan Hanmer, Head of CBRE CreativeLondon, said: 'London's skyline is a patchwork of buildings steeped in rich history, and many of them are as important for the city's cultural foundations as they are for the businesses that now occupy them.
'The Aircraft Factory is one such site, of critical military importance during both world wars, now becoming a beacon for media and tech companies in West London.'
John Goodier, Chairman of the Hammersmith and Fulham Historic Buildings Group, added: 'We are very pleased to see an old building being found a new use, and we welcome the commemoration of Hammersmith's important industrial past.
'This building is one of many in Hammersmith and across London that contributed to the war effort in both world wars.'  
The company's furniture store was located at 176 Oxford Street. The building, pictured here in 1973, still stands among the high street shops on Europe's busiest shopping street
The company's furniture store was located at 176 Oxford Street. The building, pictured here in 1973, still stands among the high street shops on Europe's busiest shopping street
An architectural rendering shows a modern, industrial interior. The blue logo pays a subtle homage to the building's history
An architectural rendering shows a modern, industrial interior. The blue logo pays a subtle homage to the building's history