The Post Office Directory Of Southampton 1853

Imagine the bustling port of Southampton in the year 1853. The air is thick with the scent of salt and coal smoke, the clatter of horse-drawn carts on cobblestones, and the cries of merchants along the quayside. The railway is revolutionising travel, and Southampton stands proudly as the gateway to the British Empire. Now, you can walk the very streets your ancestors walked and discover the world they knew with this indispensable genealogical treasure:
The Post Office Directory of Southampton, 1853.

This is more than a list of names; it is a detailed snapshot of a vibrant Victorian town at the height of its power. For any family historian with roots in Southampton, this directory is the key that can unlock generations of stories.

What Awaits You Inside?

Within the pages of this meticulously preserved directory, you will find a wealth of information, including:

A Complete Residential List: An alphabetical catalogue of the town's private residents, featuring the head of the household, their occupation, and their full address.

A Comprehensive Trade Directory: Find your ancestors by their profession! From shipwrights and sailmakers to drapers, innkeepers, and blacksmiths, locate them within their trade community.

Official & Commercial Listings: Discover the names and roles of key civic figures, including corporation members, clergy, doctors, and solicitors.

Fascinating Advertisements: Be transported back in time with period advertisements for local businesses, offering a unique and colourful insight into the goods and services available to your Victorian ancestors.

Famous Names & Notable Figures of 1853

While you may not find the Queen herself listed as a resident, the directory is populated by the influential figures who shaped the city. In 1853, the honour of being Mayor of Southampton belonged to Thomas Lucas Moon, a prominent draper whose business you can find listed within. You will discover the names of the reverends of the ancient parish churches like St. Mary's and St. Michael's, the agents for the powerful P&O and Orient shipping lines, and the architects designing the new buildings that would define the Victorian era.

This directory places your family's story directly alongside the pivotal figures of mid-19th century Southampton. You are not just finding a name; you are placing your ancestor within the living, breathing context of their time, in a city forever linked to historic events like the sailing of the Mayflower from its shores centuries earlier.

Why This Directory is Essential for Your Research:

Break Down Brick Walls: Stuck on an ancestor's whereabouts or profession? This directory can provide the crucial clue you need.
Build a Vivid Picture: Go beyond names and dates. Discover your ancestor's trade, their street, and their neighbours to build a rich and detailed story of their life.
Confirm Family Connections: Find families living together or locate relatives in nearby streets.
Trace Social Standing: Occupations and addresses provide powerful clues about your family's social and economic status in Victorian society.
A Glimpse into a Bygone Era:
For local and social historians, this directory is an invaluable primary source. It charts the commercial life of a major port town on the cusp of modernity, documenting the industries, institutions, and people who built it.

Don't let your Southampton ancestors remain names on a chart. Give them a home, a street, and a story. Add this vital piece of history to your genealogical library today!