Description and History of Site:-
Three-storey block and 16-bay, two-storey workshop, built (?) 1867 or (?) 1873 by W.F.R. Stanley (qv), inventor and manufacturer of woodworking, mathematical and surveying instruments.

Stanley set up business in London in 1853; 1867 moved here remaining until 1926.

The firm moved to Eltham in 1926, the premises then being occupied by various commercial concerns including JSM Joinery.

The buildings were seriously damaged by fire in 1998 and the remains have subsequently been incorporated in a residential development.

The front of the yellow brick three-storey block retains decorative red brick panels above and below the first floor windows. The original entrance door is now blocked with a window inserted, but the lintel remains in place and is lettered 'CONTRACTOR TO HM GOVERNMENT, COUNCIL OF INDIA, ADMIRALTY, SCIENCE & ART DEPT, &c'. The ground floor elevation of the workshops facing the railway is original, but the first floor is entirely rebuilt in yellow bricks laid in stretcher bond - a very poor attempt to match the lower part.

J.C. Anderson (1898) gave a very full description of the works and their products, noting facilities for metal-casting and machining. Instrument and mathematical scales were produced using dividing engines of Stanley's own invention. In the cabinet workshop there were lathes, saws, and boring machines. Materials used included African ivory, aluminium, boxwood, brass, German silver, gun metal, silver and vulcanite.

W.F.R. Stanley established his optical and mathematical works at Great Turnstile, Holborn, in 1853, and twenty years after according to Anderson (ie 1873) set up in business at South Norwood. Other sources suggest 1867. It remains to be ascertained whether Stanleybury (qv) was built to be close to a pre-existing factory, or the factory was opened conveniently close to the house.

Richard Inwards' biography of Stanley (1911) does not give a firm date for the building of the Stanley Works at South Norwood. His 'summary of dates and events' says of 31 August 1865 'I take new workshops about this time.' Apart from the lack of precision as to the exact date, these 'new workshops' could as well be those at Tichbourne Court (Holborn) as those at South Norwood. The same source says he designed and built Stanleybury (qv) in 1867. Cecil J. Allen's (1953) history of W.F. Stanley & Co Ltd implies that the South Norwood factory was opened after new premises at 5 Lincoln's Inn, Tichbourne Court (Holborn), two additional shops in Great Turnstile, and before the new showroom at London Bridge. He says 'The South Norwood branch owed its existence to .. Stanleybury' implying perhaps that the factory was built after the house, ie in 1867 or later.

Further Reading and References:-
Akpan, Eloise. 'The Story of William Stanley: A Self-made Man'. 2000

http://www.glias.org.uk/news/193news.html#B

https://southnorwood.net/local-history/51-william-ford-robinson-stanley.html

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Key Words :- works

Address :- Belgrave Road, South Norwood, London, Greater London, SE25
Grid Ref :- TQ 3400 6835
Co-ordinates :- Lat 51.398365 , Long -0.075165
Local Authority :- Croydon London Borough Council
Pre 1974 County :- Surrey
Site Status :- Site extant - No Protection
Site Condition :- Site redeveloped to residential housing
Site Dates :- 1867 -
Contributor :- GLIAS Database - 2 June 2018

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