Brentford, United Kingdom

Local history accounts and an inscription outside the County Court claim that Julius Cæsar crossed the Thames here during his invasion of Britain in 54 BC, and fought a battle with Cassivellaunus close by. Cæsar describes the place as fortified with sharp stakes. The discovery of sharp stakes in the riverside at Brentford Dock in the early 20th century was taken by Montagu Sharpe as evidence of a fortified crossing-site, and Caesar's battle. The stakes were removed as a hazard to river traffic, and Sharpe's claims are not supported by further excavations.

Historically part of Middlesex, in the southeastern corner of Elthorne Hundred, it has formed part of Greater London since 1965.

In November 1642 a Royalist army advancing on London overcame a much smaller Parliamentarian force in battle at Brentford. The town was ransacked in the immediate aftermath of the engagement.

A local town fair, the Brentford Festival, has been held in Brentford every September since 1900.

The building of Brentford Dock was started in 1855 and it was formally opened in 1859. The dock yard is now a marina and housing estate.

A notable family from Brentford was the 18th-/19th-century architectural father and son partnership, the Hardwicks. Thomas Hardwick Senior (1725–1798) and Thomas Hardwick Junior (1752–1829) were both from Brentford and are buried in the old church of St Laurence. Hardwick Senior was the master mason for the Adam Brothers during the construction of Syon House. Hardwick Junior assisted in the building of Somerset House and was known for his designs of churches in the capital. He was also a tutor of J. M. W. Turner and he helped start Turner's illustrious career in art. Both father and son did a great deal of remodelling and rebuilding on the church of St Laurence.

781 Council of Brentford recording settlement of a dispute between King Offa of Mercia, and the Bishop of Worcester

1016 Battle of Brentford between the invading Canute and Edmund Ironside

1616 – 1617 Pocahontas, a Native American woman, belonging to the Powhatan people, resided in Brentford with her husband, John Rolfe and son Thomas.

1682 "A very violent storm of rain, accompanied with thunder and lightning, caused a sudden flood, which did great damage to the town of Brentford."

1717 Brentford Turnpike Trust founded to maintain the road between Kensington and Hounslow

1756 Ronalds nursery established by Hugh Ronalds' father on Brentford High Street (closed 1880)

1805 Start of operations of the Grand Junction Canal (later the Grand Union Canal)

1806 James Montgomrey's father James Montgomrey Snr commenced operating a large timber mill at Montgomrey's Wharf, a yard formerly occupied by his cousin (relocated 1911)

1815 – 1817 John Quincy Adams, sixth President of the US, lived in Brentford.

1828 William Corder was arrested on Wednesday 23 April at Everley Grove House, Ealing Lane in Brentford, for the notorious Red Barn Murder.

1841 Brentford was flooded, caused by the Brent Reservoir becoming overfull so that the overflow cut a breach in the earth dam. Several lives lost.

1849 Start of operations of the Hounslow Loop line, providing service to Kew Bridge, Brentford Central and Syon Lane stations in the Brentford area.

1859 Start of operations of the Great Western & Brentford Railway, built in part on James Montgomrey's land and linking Brentford Dock to the Great Western Railway main line at Southall. Additional passenger station named 'Brentford Town' later constructed just north of Brentford High Street.

1884 Start of operations of Boston Manor Underground station (then known as Boston Road).

1889 Brentford Football Club founded by a rowing club seeking a winter sport.

30 May 1925 – Great West Road officially opened by King George V. Later the Brentford section became known as the Golden Mile due to the large number of factories that relocated there to take advantage of the good communications. The factories provided high employment and stimulation to the local economy.

1 January 1929 – Grand Junction Canal bought by the Regent's Canal and amalgamated with other canals to form the Grand Union Canal.