Snippets on Street & Trade Directories
Snippets on Street & Trade Directories
To begin with, note that these documents are VERY selective. Servants and
labourers are ignored as are slum areas. Directories were designed for
business people and not to provide detailed information for the historian.
To begin with, note that these documents are VERY selective. Servants and
labourers are ignored as are slum areas. Directories were designed for
business people and not to provide detailed information for the historian.
Commercial Directories were being produced regularly from the second
half of the 18th century onwards and villages were included from the early
19th century. Full coverage was found between c1840 and c1945. The latter
can be used to show population trends and the rise or decline of particular
crafts or trades. They can reveal the relationships between towns and
villages, a better idea of transport arrangements or studies of landed
estates.
Commercial Directories were being produced regularly from the second
half of the 18th century onwards and villages were included from the early
19th century. Full coverage was found between c1840 and c1945. The latter
can be used to show population trends and the rise or decline of particular
crafts or trades. They can reveal the relationships between towns and
villages, a better idea of transport arrangements or studies of landed
estates.
It is important to recognise the limitations and to use directories along
with other records such as newspapers and census records. Printed
editions can be found in main libraries, archives and record offices.
It is important to recognise the limitations and to use directories along
with other records such as newspapers and census records. Printed
editions can be found in main libraries, archives and record offices.
RESOURCES
RESOURCES
P.J. Atkins, The Directories of London, 1677-1977, (Mansell, 1990)
J.E. Norton, Guide to the National and Provincial Directories of England and
Wales, excluding London, published before 1856, (RHS, 1950)
G. Shaw & A. Tipper, British Directories: A Bibliography and Guide to
Directories published in England and Wales (1850-1950) and Scotland
(1773-1950), 2nd edition, (Mansell, 1997)
P.J. Atkins, The Directories of London, 1677-1977, (Mansell, 1990)
J.E. Norton, Guide to the National and Provincial Directories of England and
Wales, excluding London, published before 1856, (RHS, 1950)
G. Shaw & A. Tipper, British Directories: A Bibliography and Guide to
Directories published in England and Wales (1850-1950) and Scotland
(1773-1950), 2nd edition, (Mansell, 1997)
The updated University of Leicester free resource –
http://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/cdm/landingpage/collection/p16445coll4.
University catalogues available online - http://copac.ac.uk
Library catalogues available online http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/square/ac940/ukpublib.html
Record offices – www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archon
CD Rom collections for purchase - www.genealogysupplies.com, and
www.familyhistoryresearch.org.
The updated University of Leicester free resource –
http://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/cdm/landingpage/collection/p16445coll4.
University catalogues available online - http://copac.ac.uk
Library catalogues available online http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/square/ac940/ukpublib.html
Record offices – www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archon
CD Rom collections for purchase - www.genealogysupplies.com, and
www.familyhistoryresearch.org.