Kelly's Directory Of Newbury & Neighbourhood Berkshire 1929 Census Substitute

Kelly's Directory of Newbury & Neighbourhood, Berkshire 1929 (Census Substitute) – Digital Download & CD

Product Description

Step back into the late 1920s with this high-quality reproduction of Kelly's Directory of Newbury & Neighbourhood, Berkshire 1929. An essential resource for genealogists, local historians, and house historians, this directory serves as a perfect "Census Substitute."

While the 1931 Census was destroyed in the war and the 1941 Census was never taken due to WWII, this 1929 directory bridges the gap between the 1921 Census and the 1939 Register, offering a vital snapshot of your ancestors' lives during the inter-war years.

Format & Navigation

Please note that this product is a scan of the original book, presented as searchable PDFs (for the CD version) or a ZIP file download. Because the pages are scanned images, the text is not indexed by default (you cannot simply press Ctrl+F to find a name immediately).

However, navigation is surprisingly simple:

1. Alphabetical Layout: The Private Residents section is arranged alphabetically by surname, much like a modern phone book, making it easy to scan for specific family names.
2. Modern OCR Technology: If you are using a modern PDF reader (such as the latest versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader or browser-based viewers), many now perform OCR (Optical Character Recognition) on the fly. This means your software may be able to search the text for you automatically, even though the file is an image scan.

Historical Context: The Newbury Area in 1929

This directory captures Newbury and its surrounding villages at a time of transition. The town was firmly established as a bustling market centre with strong industrial roots.

• Industry: By 1929, Newbury was still heavily influenced by agriculture and its brewing heritage. The town was home to the famous Strongs Brewery and Campbells Brewery, which provided employment for many local residents listed in the Trades directory.
• Sport: Newbury Racecourse, which opened in 1905, was a major attraction. The directory contains many references to the racing fraternity, including trainers and jockeys residing in the area.
• Famous Connections: During this era, the area attracted notable figures. While specific residents in the Private Resident section vary, the area was historically associated with John Kimber (MP for Newbury) and prominent families connected to the racecourse. The racing village of Lambourn (included in the neighbourhood section) would have been home to many famous trainers of the Golden Age of racing.

What’s Inside?

This directory is packed with useful information for building a family tree. It typically includes the following sections:

• General Description & History: A detailed survey of the geology, civil history, and topography of Newbury.
• Private Residents Directory: An alphabetical list of the head of households (usually the gentry, clergy, and wealthier tradesmen), their addresses, and often their occupations. This is the key substitute for the missing census.
• Commercial & Trades Directory: A classified list of businesses and tradesmen. Find out if your ancestor was a baker, blacksmith, carpenter, or brewer, and see where their shop was located.
• Street Directory: (Where available) A listing of households by street, helpful for house history.
• Official Information: Details of the Corporation, Council officials, Magistrates, and Public Officers.
• Neighbourhood Directory: Includes vital listings for surrounding villages such as Thatcham, Hungerford, Lambourn, Kintbury, and Inkpen, allowing you to track families who moved between the town and country.
• Advertisements: Fascinating period ads for local businesses, offering a glimpse into the fashion and products of the 1920s.

Important Disclaimer regarding Maps

Please be aware that in some original archival copies of this directory, the map pages were removed or have been lost over time. We have made every effort to provide a complete scan, but please assume that the map may be missing from this digital edition.

Compatible with PC, Mac, and Tablets.