Kelly's Directory of Buckinghamshire 1920 - Digital Download or CD-ROM

Product Description

Step back into the post-World War I era with this incredibly detailed reproduction of Kelly's Directory of Buckinghamshire 1920. An essential resource for genealogists and local historians, this directory offers a fascinating snapshot of life in the county just as the Edwardian era was giving way to the modern age.

Whether your ancestors were wealthy landowners or local tradesmen, this directory allows you to pinpoint exactly where they lived and what they did for a living.

Format & Usability

This directory is available as a Digital Download (high-quality PDF files) or on a CD-ROM.

• Scanned Images: The directory consists of high-resolution scans of the original pages, preserving the authentic look and typography of the 1920s.
• Searchability: While this product is not digitally text-searchable in the traditional sense (the text is part of the image), navigation is surprisingly easy. Because the directories are arranged alphabetically by surname and by town/street, you can quickly locate specific individuals.
• Modern OCR: Most modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat Reader, Edge, or Chrome) now offer "OCR on the fly." This means you can often use the Ctrl+F (Find) function to search for names, and the software will scan the visual image to locate the text for you.

Navigating the Census Gaps

For family historians, directories are vital for filling in the "black holes" between census years. The 1921 Census is the next major census after 1911, and the 1931 Census was destroyed in the war. This 1920 directory serves as the perfect bridge, giving you a near-census level of detail for the year 1920, helping you track family movements just before the 1921 census was taken.

Famous People & History of Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire has long been the home of the aristocracy and influential figures. In 1920, the county was transitioning from a rural heartland to a commuter hub for London. Within the pages of this directory, you may find references to residences associated with:

• The Rothschild Family: By 1920, the Rothschilds were firmly established as one of the county's most prominent families, with estates including Waddesdon Manor and Aston Clinton.
• Benjamin Disraeli: Though he died in 1881, his legacy at Hughenden Manor was still a major feature of the local area.
• John Milton: The directory contains references to the history of Chalfont St Giles, where the poet lived and wrote Paradise Lost.
• Edmund Burke: The great statesman lived at Gregories in Beaconsfield.

Local Industry & Interesting Facts (1920)

The directory provides a unique look at the industrial landscape of the county a century ago:

• The Furniture Industry: High Wycombe was the undisputed capital of the furniture industry, famously known as "Wych-wood" furniture. In 1920, the town was bustling with chair makers, factories that supplied the Empire, and the famous "Wycombe Wanderers" football club (formed in 1887) was gaining traction.
• The Paper Industry: The River Chess and River Colne valleys were dotted with paper mills, particularly around Rickmansworth and Croxley Green, providing employment for thousands.
• Lacemaking: While in decline by 1920, the historic lace industry of Olney and Hanslope was still remembered and small-scale production persisted.
• Sport: Beyond football, cricket was a staple of village life, and the directory lists the various cricket grounds and tennis clubs that were the social hubs of the community.

Contents of the Directory

This comprehensive volume is divided into easy-to-use sections:

1. County Information: A detailed history of Buckinghamshire, including topography, geology, agriculture, and demographics. It also lists county officials, magistrates, and members of parliament.
2. The Court Directory: An alphabetical list of private residents (the gentry and professionals) and their addresses.
3. The Trades Directory: An alphabetical classification of trades and professions. Whether you are looking for a Baker in Aylesbury or a Solicitor in Slough, this section connects the trade to the person.
4. Towns & Villages: Street-by-street directories for major towns (like Aylesbury, Buckingham, and High Wycombe) and detailed listings for every village in the county, including the name of the incumbent vicar, schoolmasters, and local farmers.

Important Disclaimer regarding Maps

Please note that, due to the condition of the original source book or the printing process of the era, the original fold-out maps may be missing from this 1920 edition, or if present, may have tears or damage. Every effort has been made to include all available pages from the original source material.