Identify the location please! Essex or Surrey perhaps?

[jess5athome]

..........................................the place in your link Frank was built in the 50s

Hi, yes it was, but doesn't the caption at the side of the group photograph state:-

                             "Some of the Group W scientists photographed at ARL Teddington............."


Frank. 

[groom]

On the other post it is mentioned that they lived in Croydon.  Kate can be seen on the 1939 free index there,  by playing with the records her husband is using his middle name

Location could be Croydon area

Where I grew up, I don't recognise anywhere like that, probably long gone now if it was there.

[PalmTree1]

I do wonder about the sign though, thinking about it, would they really need to identify a building as "Laboratories", don't know much about the place but I would have thought there were a number of laboratories on site? 

Too true Maddy, the place is full of laboratories so in many ways it would make a nonsense of the sign. As the OP's grandfather was a chemist it is worth noting that the Chemical Research Laboratory opened on the NPL site in 1925 and was later known as the National Chemical Laboratory before closing in 1965. I have not found a photo of this building. One thing that struck me was that in the majority of cases there were steps leading down from the exit doors of the brick buildings, due presumably to fears of flooding... Such steps do not appear in the original picture.
Paul

[LizzieL]

It is anotated with "Central Laboratories November 1930"
My grandfather, Joseph Stewart Lawson,  is pictured and he was a chemist journeyman.
I know he lived in Chadwell Heath in early 1930 but by April 1931 was in Teddington, so I imagine this was fairly close to one of these places.

Quote from original post, so unless Joseph lived somewhere else for a short time between moving from Chadwell Heath and moving to Teddington, I think the OP is right when they say it was near one of these two places.
Is there a suitable laboratory near Chadwell heath. I believe May and Baker at Dagenham wasn't built until mid 30s so can't be that one.

To label the building "Laboratories" might imply there was a factory on the same site.

[LizzieL]

Two in the Chadwell area - Ilford photographics and Hopkin & Williams (chemical supplier)

[rosie99]

As the OP's grandfather was a chemist it is worth noting that the Chemical Research Laboratory opened on the NPL site in 1925 and was later known as the National Chemical Laboratory before closing in 1965. I have not found a photo of this building.

I suggested the National Chemical Laboratory (Reply 7) but like you have not found any photo's

[mazi]

This is most of the site from above in 1928.

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01id2/

It's the job title that worries me, all these establishments were civil service,  you might expect to see scientific officer, or similar

[PalmTree1]

As the OP's grandfather was a chemist it is worth noting that the Chemical Research Laboratory opened on the NPL site in 1925 and was later known as the National Chemical Laboratory before closing in 1965. I have not found a photo of this building.

I suggested the National Chemical Laboratory (Reply 7) but like you have not found any photo's

Sorry Rosie, missed that in the 4 pages, and just to add that the building was renamed the "Sir Charles Morgan Building" in 1965.
I wonder if someone can identify any of the more senior people in the photo which might help fix the location? I've been trying but without any success so far.
Paul

[LizzieL]

It's the job title that worries me, all these establishments were civil service,  you might expect to see scientific officer, or similar

It depends where the job title "Chemist journeyman" came from. If it was from a marriage record or baptism record of any children it could predate 1930 by several years.