THE firm building the Hayes Village development in Nestles Avenue is appealing to people in the community for historic images of the former Nestlé chocolate and coffee factory.

As Barratt London converts the famous building into apartments, it hopes to honour its fascinating history. 

Barratt is eager to hear from people who worked in the building, or perhaps from a photographer that may have internal or external photos of the factory in its heyday.

Sales director Ed McCoy said: “The Nestlé Factory is a much-loved Hayes landmark, so it is only right to keep the history of the building alive through the stories and memories of local people.

“As new residents buy and eventually move into our Hayes Village development, we feel it is important that they have the opportunity to learn about the exciting role their home played in the production of instant coffee and chocolate.”

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Local legend has it that, after retiring from Hollywood, Eugene Sandow, the father of modern body-building, who was featured in a series of Charlie Chaplin films, invested his earnings into Sandow’s Cocoa Works, which opened in Hayes in 1913.

In 1929, the factory changed hands to become the first outside Switzerland to manufacture Milky Bar.

As well as giving the former factory a new lease of life, green spaces will be opened up across the site, including a 1.3km trail, 300m of previously inaccessible canal frontage, communal gardens and a children’s play area.

Anyone with images or relevant memorabilia that they would be willing to share is asked to contact Briony Hughes at briony@building-relations.co.uk