Inventor, manufacturer and philanthropist. Born William Ford Robinson Stanley in Islington. He filed 78 patents for precision drawing, mathematical and surveying instruments, as well as telescopes. (The Stanley knife is not his, that was created by an American company.)
He was also a skilled architect, designing and founding the Stanley Technical Trades School (now Harris Academy South Norwood), the Stanley Halls, a factory (The Stanley Works in Belgrave Road, near Norwood Junction, lost) and homes for himself and his family. His wife was Eliza Ann (see there for more about their family and where they lived).
He gave over £80,000 to education projects during the last 15 years of his life. Died at his home, Cumberlow, South Norwood.
Our colleague, Andrew Behan, adds that William Ford Robinson Stanley was born on 2 February 1829, the second of the eight children of John Stanley (1804-1865) and Selina Stanley née Hickman (1809-1881). On 4 March 1829 he was baptised at St Mary's Church, Islington, Middlesex (now Greater London), where the baptismal register confirms his date of birth, that his family lived in Holloway, Middlesex (now Greater London) and that his father was a carpenter.
On 22 February 1857 he married Eliza Ann Savory (1838-1913) at St Giles in the Fields Church, St Giles High Street, Holborn, Middlesex (now Greater London), where in the marriage register he is shown as aged 28 years, a bachelor and a mathematical instrument maker living at 3 Great Turnstile, the son of John Stanley, an engineer, whilst his wife is described as aged 18 years and a spinster also residing at 3 Great Turnstile, Holborn, the daughter of Charles Savory, a waterman.
When the 1861 census was undertaken, he was shown as aged 36 years, an optician employing 12 men and 5 boys having been born Islington and still residing at 3 Great Turnstile, Holborn, together with his wife.
He is shown in the 1881 census as aged 52 years and an optician living at Cumberlow, South Norwood Park, South Norwood, Surrey (now Greater London) with his wife, together with three female domestic servants.
The 1891 census shows him as aged 62 years, an optician, author and artist, living at 1 Lancaster Road, South Norwood, with his wife, their two nieces: Eliza A. Stanley, aged 22 years who had been born in Anerley, Surrey (now Greater London) and Eliza S. Walker, aged 19 years who had been born in Marylebone, Middlesex (now Greater London), their adopted daughter Maude M. Stanley, aged 9 years who had been born in Bow, Middlesex (now Greater London), together with a cook, a parlourmaid and a housemaid.,
He was shown as aged 72 years, an optician and a Justice of the Peace, in the 1901 census still residing at 1 Lancaster Road, South Norwood, with his wife and their adopted daughter Maud Martin Stanley, together with a cook, a needlewoman and four other female domestic servants.
His death, aged 80 years, was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1909 in the Croydon Registration District, Surrey (now Greater London) and he was buried in the Beckenham Cemetery and Crematorium, Elmers End Road, Beckenham, BR3 4TD. Probate records confirm his address had been Cumberlow, South Norwood, Surrey and that he died on 14 August 1909. Probate was granted on 26 October 1909 jointly to: his widow; Robert Lachlan Pinkerton M.D. and Henry Thomas Tallack, an engineer. His effects totalled £58,905-18s-4d.
Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk
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