Plaque

Jim Marshall - wrong location

Erection date: 6/4/2013

Inscription

Jim Marshall OBE, 1923 - 2012, founder of Marshall Amplification, sold his first guitar amp here in 1962.
Hanwell High Street
76 Uxbridge Road

The plaque was unveiled by Brian Poole (of Brian Poole and the Tremeloes). Poole wrote "This is where Jim’s first shop was and on the day I went and stood outside what used to be No. 76 Uxbridge Road for the first time since the Tremeloes and me were among his very first customers in the early 60’s."

Site: Jim Marshall - wrong location (1 memorial)

W7, Uxbridge Road, 147

The location of the plaque is puzzling. The plaque says that Marshall sold his first guitar amp. 'here' at number 76, but the plaque is (2019) on number 147 Uxbridge Road, and we can find no justification for this location.

With assistance from Stephen Brasher and Andrew Behan we discovered the pavement plaque at number 76, which is the real location of the first Marshall shop, opened in 1960. A second shop was opened in 1963, almost opposite the first, at number 93. (And a dedicated factory was set up at Silverdale Road, Hayes). 

The buildings at 76 (Tony’s Barbers) and 93 (TaxAssist Accountants) are both easily pre-1950s but Fuzzfaced has a photo of a c.1950/60s “Marshall” shop captioned “The first Jim Marshall’s store, at Uxbridge Road 76 (Photo courtesy of Marshall)”. This certainly does not show 76 Uxbridge Road and really confused us initially, but we now wonder if it is a different Marshall shop, at a totally different location, not connected with Jim Marshall at all.

2023: Mr Little contacted us to say that the Fuzzfaced photo shows the shop that Marshalls had in Bletchley (where they moved in 1967 and are still based).

Stephen Brasher found a report in a 1966 Middlesex County Times saying that Marshalls now have a factory and two shops, one of which "is to be demolished along with a row of others in Uxbridge Road". The row of shops 79-103 are substantial properties so we think it was 64 – 82 that was slated for demolition.  These shops are small and are indeed the type of properties that, in the 60s, were considered of little worth. But the plan did not go ahead and the shops have provided many small businesses with premises for almost 60 years.

One day someone will explain why this plaque is on number 147, while, at number 76, there is a perfectly good section of wall, ready and waiting.

2023: Mr Little suggested that possibly the owners of number 76 refused to host a plaque so it was simply placed at the centre of Hanwell, at the clock tower. This would also explain the rather unusual pavement plaque at no 76.

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Jim Marshall - wrong location

Subjects commemorated i

Marshall Amplification

A company that specialises in the design and manufacture of  music amplifiers...

Read More

Jim Marshall

Businessman and pioneer of guitar amplification. Born in London. An electrica...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Jim Marshall - wrong location

Created by i

Brian Poole

Singer. Born in Dagenham. He became lead singer with the Tremeloes (originall...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Dr William Hunter

Dr William Hunter

W1, Great Windmill Street

This memorial is at the rear of the Lyric Theatre.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Jubilee House

Jubilee House

WC1, Gray's Inn Road

Jubilee House was opened on June 21st 1985 by Joan Bartlett, O.B.E., Vice President of the National Federation of Housing Associations in...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Foundation Stone NAAS

Foundation Stone NAAS

NW1, Euston Square, 30

This plaque refers to the Euston Road extension to the original 1908 Beresford Pite building, which is of much higher quality. Neill  wa...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Royal Westminster Ophthalmic Hospital

Royal Westminster Ophthalmic Hospital

WC2, Chandos Place

In the picture of the building the plaque can be seen behind the cyclist. This Ophthalmic Hospital and the next-door Charing Cross Hospit...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Westminster Hall - R101

Westminster Hall - R101

SW1, St Margaret Street, Westminster Hall

Plaque unveiled by Angela Smith Baroness Smith of Basildon, together with members of the Airship Heritage Trust. Wikipedia has this plaq...

2 subjects commemorated