Kelly's Directory Of Buckinghamshire 1891

Kelly's Directory of Buckinghamshire 1891 - High-Quality Digital Download or CD ROM

Product Description:

Step back into the Victorian era and explore the lives, trades, and streets of your Buckinghamshire ancestors with this comprehensive reproduction of Kelly’s Directory of Buckinghamshire 1891.

Whether you are a family historian, a local historian, or simply researching the history of your house or village, this directory is an essential resource. It offers a fascinating snapshot of the county just before the close of the 19th century.

Product Format & Accessibility This directory is available as a high-quality Digital Download or on a CD ROM. Please note that this is a digitized scan of the original book. The pages are reproduced as facsimile images (photographs of the text) and are not text-searchable in the traditional sense. However, Kelly's Directories were compiled with a strict alphabetical structure by town and village, making navigation incredibly intuitive. Furthermore, modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat) often perform Optical Character Recognition (OCR) "on the fly," allowing you to search the text within the reader software itself.

Why Use a Directory? (Bridging the Census Gaps) While the 1891 Census provides us with a snapshot of who was in a house on a specific night, directories like this fill the vital gaps between census years. They confirm residence over a longer period, list trades and occupations, and identify the head of the household—information that is crucial for building a robust family tree. Unlike the census, directories list private residents and tradespeople separately, making it easier to distinguish between the shopkeeper and the retired gentlefolk.

Contents of the Directory: This extensive volume is packed with details for every corner of the county. It includes:

• Court & Parliamentary Directory: Listing the gentry, justices of the peace, and local officials.
• County Bench & Magistrates: Details on the legal framework of the county.
• Towns & Villages Directory: From the market towns of Aylesbury and Buckingham to the smallest hamlets, each place features a private resident directory and a commercial directory.
• Trades Directory: A comprehensive classified section allowing you to find specific professions, such as Blacksmiths, Wheelwrights, Dressmakers, and Grocers, across the whole county.
• Local Information: Includes details on carriage communications, distances to London, and topographical descriptions of the parishes.

Buckinghamshire in 1891: Industry & Famous Residents This directory captures Buckinghamshire during a time of transition, where traditional rural life met the burgeoning industrial revolution.

• The Furniture Industry: The town of High Wycombe was the heart of the British furniture industry, particularly Windsor chairs. In 1891, the directory is filled with chair makers, turners, and wood sawyers, highlighting the town's dominance in this trade.
• The Rothschild Influence: By 1891, the Rothschild family had firmly established their "Tycoon" status in the county. The directory lists the impressive estates and grounds of Mentmore (owned by Baron Mayer de Rothschild) and the beginnings of Waddesdon Manor, showcasing the immense wealth and philanthropy of the banking dynasty in the Vale of Aylesbury.
• Sporting History: Football was taking root in the county. Wycombe Wanderers, originally founded in 1887, were active during this period (though they wouldn't turn professional for a few more years), and the directory reflects the growing leisure culture of the Victorian middle classes.
• Literary Connections: The market town of Olney is forever linked to the poet William Cowper and John Newton (composer of "Amazing Grace"). While they passed away long before 1891, the directory shows how the town preserved this heritage, and the local tradesmen supporting the influx of literary tourists.
• Education: The directory lists the many private academies and schools in the county, including those in Slough and Eton, capitalizing on the proximity to London and the famous college.

Important Note Regarding Maps: Please be aware that the original 1891 publication occasionally suffered from missing or damaged map plates. While we have included every page available in the source copy, some maps may be missing, partial, or torn in this reproduction.

System Requirements:

• Digital Download: Requires a PDF reader (Adobe Acrobat Reader recommended).
• CD ROM: Requires a computer with a CD/DVD drive and PDF reading software.