Ordnance Survey Employees living
in Bevois Mount
The Ordnance Survey was relocated to Southampton at the end of 1841. At that time there were few houses, as seen on Doswell’s map of Southampton, 1842.
The 1871 census shows the headquarters held accommodation as well as offices and work spaces. Twenty children, under the age of twelve, are listed.
Not surprising that some employees lived at the headquarters until more housing became available in our area. The early Southampton Street Directories list an occupants name followed by O.S.O. to signify Ordnance Survey Officer. Sometimes their trade is added, e.g., cabinet maker, clerk, draughtsman or engraver. The following are taken from the 1884 Stevens Directory for roads in Outer and Inner Avenue (house numbers and names have changed since this time):
Alma Road (The Avenue to Cambridge Road)
Rose Cottage (13), Allum Thos. O.S.O.
Nelson Cottage (21), Candy George O.S.O., draughtsman
Burrow Cottages, Brider Chas. jun., O.S.O.
Alban Cottage, Young Hy., O.S.O.
Avenue Road (The Avenue to Bevois Hill)
Perseverance House, Maryon Fredk., draughtsman O.S.O.
Cambridge Terrace
No. 2, Fraser John, O.S.O.
2, Ash Cottages, Bourke Henry, O.S.O.
Fernlea Cottage, James Edward, clerk, O.S.O.
Spear Hall, Selby Mrs. + Butler Jas., engraver, O.S.O.
Norman House, Moxley James, O.S.O.
4, Alma Terrace, Mack Wm., draughtsman, O.S.O.
1, Anglesea cottages, McKenzie G., O.S.O.
Cedar Road (Middle Street to Avenue Road)
No. 21, Burgess E., engraver, O.S.O.
No. 37, Hendy Thos., O.S.O.
No. 39, Farr Hy., O.S.O.
No. 78, Starton, O.S.O.
No. 5, Grace John, O.S.O. (Middle Street to Cliff Road)
Earls Road (Forster Road to Avenue Road)
No. 1, Donovan Jas., surveyor, O.S.O.
No. 11, Marshall Matthew, engraver, O.S.O.
Lodge Road (Avenue Road to Bevois Hill)
1, Anchor Villas, Gringer Wm. S., optician, O.S.O.
Westbury Cottage, Reeves John, draughtsman, O.S.O.
No. 1, Rochdale Terrace, Murnaghan A. Wm., O.S.O.
No. 11, Buckland Terrace, Murray Wm., O.S.O.
No. 9, Buckland Terrace, Boyle John, O.S.O.
No. 8, Buckland Terrace, Kerating Chas., engraver, O.S.O.
No. 2, Buckland Terrace, Morris Wm., engraver, O.S.O.
No. 2, Alexandra Cottage, Vokes Thos. Vincent, examiner in map office, O.S.O.
Kennington Cottage, Bryne Wm. Henry, clerk, O.S.O.
Bevois Mount Terrace
Terrace Cottage, Gallaher John, O.S.O.
Thanet House, Racine Jas., engraver, O.S.O.
Durdham Villa, D’Elboux Walter, O.S.O.
Oxford Road (Padwell Road to Lodge Road)
No. 9, Oxford Cottage, Pearman John, O.S.O.
No. 26, Clementson Jas., O.S.O.
No. 18, (Victoria Villas), Shearer John, O.S.O.
No. 8, (Montpellier Villa), Bridger Thos. Geo., draughtsman, O.S.O.
No. 2, (Marchwood House), Payne Hy., clerk, O.S.
Rose Road (Avenue Road to Lodge Road)
No. 10, McFadden Alf., O.S.O., Corra-Linn [A business? At No. 8, Peskett Fredk., is also listed as chief engineer, Corra-Linn]
Spear Road (Forster Road to Avenue Road)
Mount Cottage, McFadden A.G., engraver O.S.O.
No. 4, Hutchinson John, engraver, O.S.O.
No. 2, Bevois cottages, McKenzie John, engineer, O.S.O.
No. 2, Netley cottages, Swanston Andrew, engraver, O.S.O.
No. 6, Wilton Cottages, Warren John, O.S.O.
No. 3, Wilton Cottages, Meadon Stutely, O.S.O.
No. 2, Purbeck Cottages, Couper Fredk., draughtsman, O.S.O.
Rose Cottage (13), Allum Thos. O.S.O.
Nelson Cottage (21), Candy George O.S.O., draughtsman
Burrow Cottages, Brider Chas. jun., O.S.O.
Alban Cottage, Young Hy., O.S.O.
Avenue Road (The Avenue to Bevois Hill)
Perseverance House, Maryon Fredk., draughtsman O.S.O.
Cambridge Terrace
No. 2, Fraser John, O.S.O.
2, Ash Cottages, Bourke Henry, O.S.O.
Fernlea Cottage, James Edward, clerk, O.S.O.
Spear Hall, Selby Mrs. + Butler Jas., engraver, O.S.O.
Norman House, Moxley James, O.S.O.
4, Alma Terrace, Mack Wm., draughtsman, O.S.O.
1, Anglesea cottages, McKenzie G., O.S.O.
Cedar Road (Middle Street to Avenue Road)
No. 21, Burgess E., engraver, O.S.O.
No. 37, Hendy Thos., O.S.O.
No. 39, Farr Hy., O.S.O.
No. 78, Starton, O.S.O.
No. 5, Grace John, O.S.O. (Middle Street to Cliff Road)
Earls Road (Forster Road to Avenue Road)
No. 1, Donovan Jas., surveyor, O.S.O.
No. 11, Marshall Matthew, engraver, O.S.O.
Lodge Road (Avenue Road to Bevois Hill)
1, Anchor Villas, Gringer Wm. S., optician, O.S.O.
Westbury Cottage, Reeves John, draughtsman, O.S.O.
No. 1, Rochdale Terrace, Murnaghan A. Wm., O.S.O.
No. 11, Buckland Terrace, Murray Wm., O.S.O.
No. 9, Buckland Terrace, Boyle John, O.S.O.
No. 8, Buckland Terrace, Kerating Chas., engraver, O.S.O.
No. 2, Buckland Terrace, Morris Wm., engraver, O.S.O.
No. 2, Alexandra Cottage, Vokes Thos. Vincent, examiner in map office, O.S.O.
Kennington Cottage, Bryne Wm. Henry, clerk, O.S.O.
Bevois Mount Terrace
Terrace Cottage, Gallaher John, O.S.O.
Thanet House, Racine Jas., engraver, O.S.O.
Durdham Villa, D’Elboux Walter, O.S.O.
Oxford Road (Padwell Road to Lodge Road)
No. 9, Oxford Cottage, Pearman John, O.S.O.
No. 26, Clementson Jas., O.S.O.
No. 18, (Victoria Villas), Shearer John, O.S.O.
No. 8, (Montpellier Villa), Bridger Thos. Geo., draughtsman, O.S.O.
No. 2, (Marchwood House), Payne Hy., clerk, O.S.
Rose Road (Avenue Road to Lodge Road)
No. 10, McFadden Alf., O.S.O., Corra-Linn [A business? At No. 8, Peskett Fredk., is also listed as chief engineer, Corra-Linn]
Spear Road (Forster Road to Avenue Road)
Mount Cottage, McFadden A.G., engraver O.S.O.
No. 4, Hutchinson John, engraver, O.S.O.
No. 2, Bevois cottages, McKenzie John, engineer, O.S.O.
No. 2, Netley cottages, Swanston Andrew, engraver, O.S.O.
No. 6, Wilton Cottages, Warren John, O.S.O.
No. 3, Wilton Cottages, Meadon Stutely, O.S.O.
No. 2, Purbeck Cottages, Couper Fredk., draughtsman, O.S.O.
Examining the 1891 Stevens Directory there continued to be significant numbers of O.S.O. residents (Alma Road – 5, Avenue Road – 13, Cedar Road – 5 and Lodge Road – 7). Later street directories do not show O.S.O. after names.
The house at 100, Alma Road was occupied by George Candy, draughtsman, O.S.O. He is recorded in the house in 1876 when the property was no. 21, Nelson Cottage. The 1881 census lists the following occupants:
George Candy, head of house, (34); Emma Candy, wife (34); Alexander (9), Ellen (7), Olive (4), Ada (4), children; Eliza (32), sister-in-law (widow); Florence (2), niece/daughter to Eliza.
Having found many porcelain dolls pieces in the garden, I like to think they might have belonged to these children.
Stone lithography was originally important to the map-making process. The stones required four men to lift. They were not finally disposed of until the 1950s, and many apparently ended up as paving slabs for residential properties.
Zincography and photography became more important from 1855. The glass house/photography building used natural sunlight for the development process.
The house at 100, Alma Road was occupied by George Candy, draughtsman, O.S.O. He is recorded in the house in 1876 when the property was no. 21, Nelson Cottage. The 1881 census lists the following occupants:
George Candy, head of house, (34); Emma Candy, wife (34); Alexander (9), Ellen (7), Olive (4), Ada (4), children; Eliza (32), sister-in-law (widow); Florence (2), niece/daughter to Eliza.
Having found many porcelain dolls pieces in the garden, I like to think they might have belonged to these children.
Stone lithography was originally important to the map-making process. The stones required four men to lift. They were not finally disposed of until the 1950s, and many apparently ended up as paving slabs for residential properties.
Zincography and photography became more important from 1855. The glass house/photography building used natural sunlight for the development process.
The Ordnance Survey buildings were seriously damaged during the Southampton Blitz of 1940 in the Second World War.
The Ordnance Survey was moved to temporary buildings near Crabwood House in Maybush and Chessington, Surrey. New headquarters were opened in Maybush during 1969 and the Ordnance Survey finally vacated its London Road premises.
Chris Jackson
Chris Jackson