doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com E.M. Reilly; History; Chronology; Serial Numbers

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315 (277) Oxford Street - a multitude of Oxford Street buildings carrying that number

A gentleman in UK, a very prominent member of the gun fraternity, has questioned whether Reilly, indeed occupied all of 315 Oxford Street (re-numbered 277 after Nov 1881) or just a portion of it, pointing to postal addresses associated with the number "315" with seemed to indicate additional tenets there. To ward off additional questioning on this matter, here is the reply (covered above but repeated here):

The renumbering of Oxford Street occurred in early November 1881, not 1882. There are before and after advertisements for Reilly's at the time:

In addition, and probably why the renumbering took place, there are at least 3 "315, Oxford Street" address in existence at that time:

1) Reilly at 315, Oxford Street - And he held that building in freehold until 1903. I know this because of a famous court case regarding access to the Salvation Army Hall behind his building - he sued the Salvation Army to limit their access through the tunnel under his property. Reilly controlled the substantial part of that building and somehow had a 50 yard shooting range there, advertised from the beginning in August 1858.
07 Aug 1858 "The Field"


. . . . .-- Here is reference to the above court case involving Reilly's free-hold on the building which proves conclusively that Reilly controlled that building (The entire court case, which continues to be cited to this day, can be posted):
17 July 1889, "Morning Post"


2) Purdey at 314, 315 Oxford Street (up to 1882), which they called "314 1/2" as a compromise.

3) 314, 315 Oxford Street, Hanover square: And a boarding house, possibly called "Hanover Residence," run by "Mr. Ash" associated with billiard players, actresses, fly-by-night businessmen, etc. which apparently had shops for selling tickets for voyages, a linen seller, etc.

16 Jan 1881 Bell's Life - the Billiard Shark


20 Aug 1881 "The Era" - the fading burlesque actress


1881 "Bell's Life" - the employment agency


05 July 1880 - the Trunk patent con-man - at "Mr. Ash's"


05 Aug 1880 "The Sportsman" - If you'll invest 150 pounds, We'll hire you for 80 pounds a year


Ash ran several businesses, including this one - a tea set maker at 314, 315 Oxford advertising "Ash's."
11 Dec 1880, "Sporting and Dramatic News"


Note: Research shows this is Mr. Henry Clarke Ash, 314 and 315c Oxford Street,. He was a businessman and lodging house keeper per voting records and postal directory pre-1881 at 314, 315 Oxford Street and post 1881 renumbered 301, 303 Oxford street. Here is a modern display of the proximity of the three "pre 1881" "315 Oxford Street" addresses:



1885 view:


This is redundant at this point, but the challenges to the research on this line continue. They are of course welcome. Sanity Checks are always needed.

(And by the way, "Hanover Residence" run by Mr. Ash in 1880 sounds like a very interesting place to be at the time!! - billiard sharks, fading actresses, con-men, capitalists on the make...)