1854 to 1859.
93 Pentonville Road, London N.
This was located on the south side west of the junction with Claremont
Square. It has since been redeveloped. It was Andrew Ross s home
address at the time of his death in September 1859.
Thomas Ross, son of Andrew continued the business from 2 and 3
Featherstone Buildings. The entry, Thomas Ross Optician, appeared in
Kelly s Directories from 1860 to 1864
In the 1865 Directory the entry was expanded to read, Thomas Ross ( Son
and Successor of the Late Andrew Ross ) Optician. Manufacturer of
microscopes, telescopes, photographic lenses, photographic cameras
and photographic apparatus, race, field and opera glasses,
philosophical instruments. It was repeated for 1866 and 1867.
53 Wigmore Street, Cavendish Square West.
This was located on the south side between Cavendish Square and
Wimpole Street. Wigmore Street has since been renumbered. Listed in
Kelly s Directories for 1868 and 1869.The description continued.
7 Wigmore Street, Cavendish Square, junction with Wimpole Street.
It was on the north east corner. In the 1870 edition the wording was
amended to, Thomas Ross, Gold Medal Paris 1867 for microscopes,
telescopes and instruments of precision, highest awards obtained at
all the exhibitions where he has competed. Manufacturer of first class
microscopes, telescopes, photographic lenses and apparatus,
binocular glasses, barometers etc. Catalogues on application.
No 1 Upton Villas, Kilburn, London N.W.
This was situated on the east side of what is now the Maida Vale near
the junction with what is now Kilburn Priory. The home of Thomas Ross
and his wife Mary Ann, where he died in December 1870. The business
was left to his wife.
The business continued to trade from 7 Wigmore Street to 1875.
By this tim
.er 1859.
Thomas Ross, ROSS ADDRESSES
5 Albermarle Street, Clerkenwell, London E.C.
This was Andrew Ross s first address as an independent maker from 1830.
It is a narrow road between St John s Street and St John s Square.
15 St John s Square, Clerkenwell, London E.C.
The entry in Robsons Directory 1832, ( the earliest traced ), lists
Andrew Ross as a Machinist.
The 1833 Robsons Directory now describes Ross as a Mathematical
Instrument Maker.
From 1834 Andrew Ross and his successors were listed in Kelly s
Directory. Kelly s was published at the end of the preceeding year.
Thus the 1834 was published at the end of 1833.
The last entry for this address was in the Directory for 1839.
15 St John s Square disappeared during redevelopment of the area.
33 Regents Circus, (Piccadilly ), London W.
This was located on the south west corner of the Quadrant. In 1838
it is mentioned in an 1838 Society of Arts Membership List. In Kelly
s Directory for 1840 the entry is for Andrew Ross and Co., Opticians.
The first time such a description was used. The Co. represents an
association with J.J.Lister. Books on microscopes suggest this
association started in 1837.
The Directory for 1842 omitted the Co. reference.
21 Featherstone Buildings, High Holborn, London W.C.
This was located on the north side of Holborn off Red Lion Street.
The area has since been developed. Andrew Ross was listed at this
address in the Directories from 1843 to 1847.
2 Featherstone Buildings, High Holborn, London W.C.
Andrew Ross Optician was listed at this address in Kelly s
Directories for 1848 to 1853. The National Census for 1851 shows Ross,
his wife Elizabeth and two apprentices in residence.
2 and 3 Featherstone Buildings, High Holborn, London W.C.
Ross expanded into the adjacent property and was so listed fre it was
run by John Stuart who had married Thomas Ross s widow. The Directory
entry read, Ross and Co. Opticians, manufacturers of microscopes,
telescopes, photographic lenses, cameras and apparatus, spectacles,
race, field and opera glasses, philosophical instruments.
164 New Bond Street, London W.
This was on the corner with Grafton Street. The site has been
redeveloped.( 7 Wigmore was shown shown as the address for wholesale
and export.) The address was occupied from 1875 to 1880. The entry
in Kelly s for 1879 read, Ross and Co. Established 1830, Opticians,
Gold Medals London 1862, Paris 1867, Philadelphia 1876 and Paris 1878
for first class microscopes, telescopes, photographic lenses and
apparatus, race glasses etc. Catalogues on application.
112 New Bond Street, London W.
Occupied from 1881 to 1891. The works were shown as being at the Haunch
of Venison Yard, Brook Street. The 1889 entry in Kelly s Directory
read, Ross and Co. Opticians, Gold Medals London 1851 and 1862, Paris
1867 and Philadelphia 1876 and Paris 1878 and Inventions Exhibition
1885, for first class microscopes, telescopes and photographic lenses
and apparatus, race glasses etc. Catalogues on application.
The Hollies, Clapham Common, Northside, London S.W.
Later No 31 Northside. The home of John Stuart from 1888 to possibly
1900. He then occupied an apartment at 3 Clapham Common, Northside
until about 1914.
Stonehurst, Ardingly, Sussex.
C.1888 acquired by J.Stuart and occupied until 1926 when it was sold
after J.Stuart s death. A large mansion with a campanile and later
an observatory in an estate of around 300 acres. It is situated
opposite to the entrance to Wakehurst Place. The Stuart family grave
is in Ardingly Churchyard.
3 Northside Clapham Common, Northside, London S.W.
Bought by J.Stuart about 1891. It was a large mansion with extensive
garden area. It was converted to a factory with works in the garden.
Later the premises on either side, No.s 2 and 4 were also acquired
to extend the works. In 1955 British Photographic Industries Limited
the owners of Ross Limited moved all production into the Clapham
premises. The Kelly s entries from 1956 to 1965 read Ross Ensign Ltd.
Binocular Makers. In 1959 Whitefriars Investments Limited bought Ross
Limited ( together with Ross Ensign Ltd., and Barnet Ensign Ltd.)The
freehold of the site was sold in 1961. Ross Ltd and later Ross Optical
Ltd remained in part occupation until 1974/75. In 1964 Whitefriars
went into Receivership and its subsidiary companies including Ross
Ltd ( and its two associates ) were disposed of.
111 New Bond Street, London W.
On the corner of Brook Street occupied from 1892 to 1917. Kelly s
Directory entry for 1917 was the first to mention prismatic binoculars
and the last for microscopes. Ross Limited, opticians by appointment
to His Majesty the King manufacturers of microscopes and telescopes,
prismatic binoculars, periscopes, photographic lenses and apparatus,
spectacles, race and opera glasses etc. Gold Medals and highest awards
at all great exhibitions.
19 Honeywell Road, Wandsworth Common, London S.W.
!n 1897 the home address of John Henry Barton, whose patent 19255 of
1897 was adopted by Ross and became the first british prismatic
binocular. Barton worked for Ross until about 1906when he set up in
business on his own account at 196 Clapham Park road.
31 Cockspur Street, Charing Cross, London W.
Ross operated a retail shop on this site from 1897 to 1911. The site
has been redeveloped.
14 and 14 Great Castle Street. Oxford Circus, London W.
These premises were acquired by Ross Limited in June 1917 together
with a factory in Bittacy Road, Mill Hill. Both previously occupied
by Carl Zeiss
( London ) Ltd. Zeiss had been compelled
to close under war time legislation.
The Mill Hill factory continued to manufacture a Zeiss type binocular
during the War and to fit graticules to other makes of binoculars.
It closed down in 1919. Great Castle Street was used by Ross Limited
until 1936. The Kelly s entry for 1922 was the first to mention film
projectors. Ross Limited, Opticians by appointment to His Majesty the
King manufacturers of telescopes, prism binoculars, periscopes,
photographic lenses and apparatus, kinematic projectors etc. Gold
medals and highest awards at all international exhibitions.
26 Conduit Street, New Bond Street, London W.
Ross maintained a showroom within these premises from 1936 to 1948.
The entry in the 1949 Kelly s Directory ( the last for Ross as an
independent company)read, Ross Limited Opticians, makers of 35 mm
cinematograph apparatus, 35 mm projection lenses and prismatic
binoculars. Gold Medals and highest awards at all great international
exhibitions.
Fulbourne Road, Walthamstow, London E 17.
In 1948 the British Photographic Industries Limited based in
Walthamstow, had gained control of Ross Ltd. A company, Barnet, Ensign
Ross Limited was formed to market all the group s products. Kelly s
Directory for 1950 and 1951 read, Barnet, Ensign Ross Ltd. Cameras,
roll films, X-ray films, photographic apparatus. Barnet photographic
plates, flat films and papers. In the 1952 edition the entry also
included, Ross cinematographic apparatus. In 1953 the trading company
changed its name to Ross Ensign Limited. And the Kelly s entries for
1954 and 1955 read, Ross Ensign Ltd. Ensign cameras, photographic
apparatus and materials. Ross lenses, binoculars and projectors.
During 1955 B.P.I. Ltd. closed down its factory in Walthamstow and
moved such camera production as remained to the Clapham Common
premises.
Ayling House, Kings Road, Horsham, Sussex.
This was the headquarters of the Frank H.Ayling Group of companies
who were the owners of Ross Optical Limited. It is possible that
binocular manufacturing was transferred to Horsham as the London
Gazette shows Ross Optical Ltd. receiving the Royal Warrant as
suppliers of binoculars to Her Majesty from
1969 up to December 1978.
Images of the following addresses are available, numbers 375 to 395.
5 Albermarle Street.
33 Regent Circus
53 Wigmore Street.
7 Wigmore Street
No 1 Upton Villas, Kilburn
The Hollies, Northside Clapham Common
Stonehurst, Ardingly, Sussex
Family Grave of John Stuart, His wife Mary Annie and their children,
Ardingly Churchyard
3 Northside Clapham Common
2 and 3 Northside Clapham Common
4 Northside, Clapham Common
2 and 3 Northside, Clapham Common
Remains of Ross Factory 2010
Remains of Ross Factory 2010
29 Macaulay Road.
Haunch of Venison Yard, Brook Street.
19 Honeywell Road.
13 and 14 Great Castle Street
26 Conduit Street
Ross Ltd. A company, Barnet, Ensign Ross Limited was formed to market
all the group s products. Kelly s Directory for 1950 and 1951 read,
Barnet, Ensign Ross Ltd. Cameras, roll films, X-ray films,
photographic apparatus.