31 Cockspur Street, Charing Cross, London W. Ross operated a retail shop on this site from 1897 to The site has been redeveloped.

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1 ROSS ADDRESSES 5 Albermarle Street, Clerkenwell, London E.C. This was Andrew Ross s first address as an independent maker from 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 The last entry for this address was in the Directory for 1839.!5 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 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 Featherstone Buildings, High Holborn, London W.C. Andrew Ross Optician was listed at this address in Kelly s Directories for 1848 to 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 from 1854 to Pentonville Road, London N.

2 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 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 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 The business was left to his wife. The business continued to trade from 7 Wigmore Street to By this time 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

3 was occupied from 1875 to 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 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 He then occupied an apartment at 3 Clapham Common, Northside until about 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 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 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 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

4 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 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 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 Great Castle Street was used by Ross Limited until 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 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

5 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 Images of the following addresses are available, numbers 375 to 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 2 and 3 Northside, Clapham Common 4 Northside, Clapham Common

6 2 and 3 Northside, Clapham Common Remains of Ross Factory 2010 Remains of Ross Factory Macaulay Road. Haunch of Venison Yard, Brook Street. 19 Honeywell Road. 13 and 14 Great Castle Street 26 Conduit Street