Ebury Street, home to W. & D. Downey’s London studios from the 1870s, was a popular destination for anyone looking for a high-quality portrait photograph.
By the outbreak of World War Two, the Downey company was in the hands of Miss Sarah Partridge (1868-1955).
As revealed in the last Pressphotoman post, she shared the business premises at number 61 with arts and crafts basket maker Albert H. Crampton (1882-1958).
Ebury Street blogpost – 11th May 2026
However, electoral registers for the late 1930s reveal that the building had a residential flat on an upper floor occupied by one ‘Rudolph Messell.’
Although mis-spelt, the surname ‘Messel’ was familiar as that of the celebrated costume and stage designer Oliver Messel (1904-1978).
Best-known for his Oscar-nominated work on the 1936 film Romeo and Juliet, Oliver was portrayed by leading photographers of the era including Cecil Beaton, Norman Parkinson, Yvonne Gregory and Angus McBean.
National Portrait Gallery, London – Oliver Messel
Rudolph Messel (1904-1954) was Oliver’s cousin and a member of a family whose fascinating story is told in John Hilary’s From Refugees to Royalty (London: Peter Owen, 2021).
The Nymans of the book’s title refers to the family’s home in West Sussex, destroyed by fire in 1947, whose ruin and gardens are today a popular National Trust property.
Another member of the Messel family was the photographer Tony Armstrong-Jones (1930-2017), later Lord Snowdon through his marriage to Princess Margaret.
As to Rudolph Messel, he had established a reputation in the 1920s and 30s as a journalist, film maker and political activist.
A committed socialist, he stood unsuccessfully as a Labour Party candidate in three General Elections as well as a by-election.
It was whilst living at 61 Ebury Street that he was involved in a settlement project in Colombia for Jewish and other refugees fleeing fascism in Europe.
As to Rudolph Messel’s relationships with his neighbours at number 61 and, in particular, Sarah Partridge of W. & D. Downey, research continues.
Pressphotoman 
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