Kelly's Directory Of Stratford West Ham Forest Gate & Plaistow 1890-1891

Kelly's Directory of Stratford, West Ham, Forest Gate & Plaistow 1890-1891

Step back in time to the gaslit streets and bustling workshops of late-Victorian East London. Imagine the clatter of horse-drawn carts on Stratford High Street, the scent of industry from the docks of West Ham, and the quiet, leafy avenues of Forest Gate taking shape. Your ancestors lived and worked here. Now, you can walk in their footsteps with the Kelly's Directory of Stratford, West Ham, Forest Gate & Plaistow for 1890-1891—an indispensable key to unlocking their world.

What You'll Discover Inside:

This isn't just a list of names; it's a detailed snapshot of a community on the brink of a new century. Within its pages, you will find:

Comprehensive Street-by-Street Listings: Pinpoint your ancestor's exact address and discover the names of their neighbours. See who lived at number 32 and who ran the shop on the corner.

Private Residents Directory: Find the heads of households listed alphabetically, often with their occupations and addresses. Perfect for confirming a family story or locating a specific individual.

Commercial & Trade Directory: Explore the vibrant local economy. Was your great-grandfather a bootmaker in Plaistow? Did your great-aunt run a confectioner's shop in Forest Gate? Discover the butchers, bakers, drapers, and dock workers who formed the backbone of the community.

Official & Local Information: Learn about the structure of the town. Find listings for local council officials, clergy, doctors, solicitors, and schoolmasters, giving context to the society your ancestors inhabited.

Fascinating Advertisements: Delve into authentic Victorian advertisements! See the products your ancestors bought, the services they used, and perhaps even find an ad for a family business, complete with prices and proud claims.

Why This Directory is a Genealogist's Goldmine:

Bridge the Census Gap: Published right before the 1891 Census, this directory is the perfect tool to confirm a family's location between census years or to find those who were unfortunately missed.

Add Colour to Your Family Tree: Go beyond names and dates. An occupation turns a name into a person. An address turns a location into a home. This directory adds rich, contextual detail to your research.

Break Down Brick Walls: Stuck on an ancestor with a common name? Use the directory to cross-reference names, occupations, and specific streets to isolate the correct individual.

Reconstruct the Community: Understand the world your ancestors knew. What churches could they attend? Where was the nearest post office? How did they get to work on the new railway lines?

Who Will You Find?

Were your ancestors among the skilled craftsmen, the dock labourers, the proud shopkeepers, or the growing number of city clerks who called this dynamic part of London home? Whether they were established residents or new arrivals seeking opportunity, their names are likely waiting within these pages.

Don't let your ancestors' stories remain hidden in the archives. Add this essential piece of East London's history to your genealogy toolkit and bring their Victorian world back to life.