Kelly's Directory Of Buckinghamshire 1935

Kelly's Directory of Buckinghamshire 1935 - Digital Download or CD-ROM

Product Description:

Step back into the inter-war period of Buckinghamshire with this comprehensive republication of Kelly's Directory of 1935. An essential resource for genealogists, local historians, and house researchers, this directory offers a fascinating snapshot of life in the county just a few years before the outbreak of World War II.

Available as a convenient digital download or on a traditional CD-ROM, this high-quality reproduction consists of scanned images of the original pages. While the directory is not text-searchable in its native format (as it preserves the original look and feel of the 1930s typeset), it is incredibly easy to navigate. The directory is organized alphabetically by location and surname, allowing researchers to locate specific towns, villages, and individuals with speed. Furthermore, most modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat) offer on-the-fly OCR capabilities, enabling you to search the text content once the file is open on your computer.

Bridging the 1931 Census Gap This directory holds immense value due to the tragic loss of the 1931 Census in a fire during World War II. With the 1939 Register being the next official census, this 1935 directory serves as a critical "census substitute," helping you trace family movements and residence during the mid-1930s—a period often difficult to document.

Famous Residents & Notable Connections Buckinghamshire in 1935 was a mix of rural idyll and industrial growth. This directory lists the private residents of the time, potentially placing famous figures in their homes just as they were rising to prominence:

• Enid Blyton: The beloved children's author was living at her then-new home, "Old Thatch," in Bourne End around this period, where she wrote many of her early famous stories.
• The Prime Minister: With Chequers being the country retreat of the Prime Minister, the area around Ellesborough was frequently frequented by Stanley Baldwin (and later Ramsay MacDonald) during this tumultuous political year.
• Industry Magnates: The directory lists the key players driving the local economy, particularly in the furniture and printing trades.

A Time of Industry and Sport The 1930s were a boom time for Buckinghamshire's unique industries:

• The Furniture Trade: High Wycombe and surrounding villages were the heart of the British furniture industry. The directory is filled with cabinet makers, chair turners, and wood carvers, earning the region its nickname as the furniture capital of England.
• The Expansion of Slough: The Slough Trading Estate was in full swing by 1935, attracting a myriad of new engineering and technical businesses to the south of the county.
• Local Sport: While Wycombe Wanderers (founded 1887) was playing in the Great Western Suburban League during this era, the directory highlights the local cricket clubs and athletic societies that were the lifeblood of village communities.

What's Inside the Directory? This publication is split into several comprehensive sections to aid your research:

1. County Information: A detailed history and topography of Buckinghamshire, including details on the geology, agriculture, and main transport routes (railways and omnibus services) of the time.
2. Court Directory (Private Residents): An alphabetical list of private residents throughout the county. This is the key section for finding where your ancestors lived and their social standing (heads of households are usually listed).
3. Commercial Directory: An alphabetical list of trades and professions. Whether you are looking for a baker in Beaconsfield or a solicitor in Stony Stratford, this section categorizes every business and tradesperson.
4. Towns & Villages: Detailed street-by-street or house-by-house breakdowns for major towns such as Aylesbury, Buckingham, High Wycombe, Chesham, and Eton, including a separate directory for Eton College.

Important Note Regarding Maps: Please be aware that while this directory reproduces the vast majority of the original content, the original publisher occasionally omitted maps from certain editions to cut costs. As such, this 1935 edition may not include county or town maps.

Format Specifications:

• Format: PDF (Scanned Images)
• Compatibility: Compatible with PC, Mac, and Tablet devices.
• Navigation: Bookmarks included for main towns/sections. Alphabetical sorting allows for manual browsing. Use your PDF reader's "Find" function to utilize OCR searching.