 In the 18th century the ait was inhabited and buildings included a notorious pub called the Swan or Three Swans — its trade was ended in 1796.On the Brentford bank, the Swan Steps lead down to the river at the east end of the long and narrow riverside park, Waterman's Park, at the site of the crossing to this pub.The ait was planted with trees in the 1920s to screen Brentford's gasworks from the view of Kew Gardens.