Kelly's Directory Of Buckinghamshire 1931 Census Substitute

Kelly's Directory of Buckinghamshire 1931 – The Essential 1931 Census Substitute

Product Description

Unlock the history of Buckinghamshire in 1931 with this complete facsimile reproduction of Kelly's Directory of Buckinghamshire.

As any genealogist knows, the 1931 Census for England and Wales was destroyed by fire in 1942, leaving a frustrating gap in historical records. This directory serves as the quintessential "Census Substitute," allowing you to pinpoint ancestors, track family movements, and understand the community structure during the inter-war period.

Format & Navigation This product is available as a Digital Download or on CD.

• High-Quality Scans: The directory consists of scanned images of the original pages, preserving the authenticity of the font and layout.
• Easy Navigation: While the book is not text-searchable in its raw format, the alphabetical arrangement of names and trades makes locating your relatives straightforward. You can browse by town and then scan the alphabetical lists with ease.
• Modern Compatibility: Most modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat or browser-based viewers) now perform OCR (Optical Character Recognition) on the fly. This allows you to use the "Find" function (Ctrl+F or Cmd+F) to search for surnames or street names within the viewer.

What’s Inside the Directory?

This comprehensive volume is divided into several key sections to assist your research:

1. County Information: A detailed overview of Buckinghamshire’s topography, ancient history, and statistics.
2. Court Directory (Private Residents): An alphabetical list of the county’s gentry, clergy, and wealthy private residents. This is often where you will find landowners and prominent professionals.
3. Parish & Town Directory: A street-by-street and alphabetical list of private residents and tradespeople for every town and village in the county, from Aylesbury to Wingrave.
4. Trades Directory: A classified commercial directory listing businesses by profession. Whether you are looking for a baker in Beaconsfield or a solicitor in Stony Stratford, this section provides a fascinating look at the local economy.
5. Official Information: Lists of local magistrates, public officials, postal arrangements, and transport timetables (trains and omnibuses).

Historical Context & Famous Connections

Buckinghamshire in 1931 was a county of contrasts, blending ancient market towns with the rapid industrial expansion of the south. This directory captures that unique moment in time.

• The Census Gap: Because the 1931 Census was lost, this directory is often the only definitive way to confirm who lived at a specific address during this year.
• Industry & Commerce:
  • The Furniture Industry: High Wycombe was the heart of the British furniture industry. Known as the "Chair Capital of the World," the directory is packed with chair manufacturers, wood turners, and sawmills.
  • Slough Trading Estate: By 1931, Slough was rapidly becoming one of the most important industrial centers in the UK, attracting major engineering and manufacturing firms.
• Famous Residents & Figures:
  • The Rothschild Family: Buckinghamshire was the home of the influential Rothschild banking dynasty. You will find references to the family seats at Ascott House and Waddesdon Manor.
  • Literary Legends: The village of Beaconsfield was home to the literary icon G.K. Chesterton and was the birthplace of Edmund Burke. The poet John Milton had historic ties to the Chalfonts, which are noted in the town histories.
  • Disraeli: The legacy of Benjamin Disraeli, who lived at Hughenden Manor, remains a strong feature of the High Wycombe area.
• Sport: The directory lists local sports clubs and grounds, including references to Wycombe Wanderers (founded in 1887) and the thriving amateur cricket leagues common in the market towns.

Important Disclaimer

Please Note: While this directory is complete regarding text entries, please be aware that the original publisher did not include fold-out maps for every edition. Consequently, some maps may be missing from this publication, as they were absent from the source material used for scanning

Why Buy This Directory?

Whether you are tracing a family tree, researching the history of your house, or interested in the social history of Buckinghamshire between the wars, this directory is an invaluable resource. Don't let the missing 1931 Census stop your research—let Kelly's Directory fill in the blanks.

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