Bennett's Business Directory Of Dorsetshire & Wiltshire 1898

Bennett's Business Directory Of Dorsetshire & Wiltshire 1898

Unlock the Commercial World of Your Victorian Ancestors!

Were your Dorsetshire or Wiltshire ancestors tradesmen, merchants, farmers, or professionals? Step back in time to the twilight of the Victorian era with this meticulously reproduced digital version of Bennett's Business Directory of Dorsetshire & Wiltshire (1898). This is an essential resource for any genealogist looking to add colour, context, and concrete details to their family tree.

This directory is not a census of residents; it is a fascinating snapshot of the commercial heart of these two historic counties. It provides a unique window into the working lives of your ancestors, revealing their occupations, business locations, and their place within the local community.

Why This 1898 Directory is a Genealogist's Goldmine:

Locate Your Tradesman & Professional Ancestors: Find your ancestors listed by name and trade. Discover if they were a baker in Blandford, a blacksmith in Bradford-on-Avon, a solicitor in Salisbury, or a farmer with land outside Devizes.

Bridge the Gap Between Censuses: Pinpoint your family's location between the 1891 and 1901 censuses. If an ancestor seems to have disappeared, this directory may confirm they were still living and working in the area.
Understand Their World: Go beyond names and dates. Learn about the town where they lived and worked. What other businesses were on their street? Who were the local grocers, drapers, and innkeepers they would have interacted with every day?

Discover Social Standing: An entry in a business directory often signifies a certain level of establishment and respectability. It helps you understand your ancestor's social and economic status within the community.
Find Clues for Further Research: The directory can provide the exact name of a business or farm, making it easier to search local archives, land records, newspapers, and wills for more detailed information.
What You'll Find Inside:

This comprehensive directory contains invaluable information for both counties, including:

County & Town Information: Historical and topographical details for Dorsetshire and Wiltshire, plus statistics and descriptions of major towns.
Street & Commercial Directories: A list of the principal streets in each town, naming the head of the household or business at each address. (Note: This lists businesses and household heads, not every resident).
Private Residents Directory (Select Towns): A court directory listing the principal private residents and gentry in larger towns.
Professional & Trades Directory: A classified list of all trades and professions, allowing you to easily find all the bakers, carpenters, or doctors in a county.
Official Information: Listings for national and local government officials, clergy, police, magistrates, and post offices.
If your ancestors helped build the commercial, agricultural, or professional fabric of Dorsetshire or Wiltshire, this directory is your key to finding them. Add this vital piece of historical evidence to your genealogy toolkit and watch your family history come to life!