Kelly's Directory Of Manchester Salford & Suburbs 1954

Kelly's Directory of Manchester Salford & Suburbs 1954: A Time Capsule of Post-War Industrial Life

Step back into the vibrant, rebuilding heart of 1950s Manchester. Discover the people, places, and businesses that shaped the era.

Imagine a Manchester on the cusp of modernity. The shadows of war are receding, the coronation of a young Queen has filled the nation with optimism, and the rhythmic hum of cotton looms and engineering works still defines the city's soundscape. This is the world captured in meticulous detail within the Kelly's Directory of Manchester, Salford & Suburbs, 1954.

More than just a list of names and addresses, this directory is a primary source historical document—a comprehensive snapshot of a single, transformative year. It is an indispensable tool for anyone researching family history, exploring local heritage, or simply yearning for a tangible connection to the past. Hold a piece of Manchester's soul in your hands.

What You'll Discover Inside:
This classic Kelly's Directory is meticulously structured to provide a complete overview of the city and its inhabitants. Its pages are a treasure trove of information, including:

Street-by-Street Directory: The heart of the volume. Walk down every street in Manchester, Salford, and their suburbs. See the layout of the city before the major redevelopments and motorways of the 1960s. Listings are often house-by-house, detailing the name of the head of household and, in many cases, their occupation or trade.
Commercial & Trades Directory: An alphabetical A-Z of businesses and tradesmen. Find everything from ironmongers and textile merchants to tea rooms and tailors. This section provides a fascinating insight into the city's industrial and commercial backbone, showcasing the sheer diversity of local enterprise.
Private Residents Directory: An alphabetical list of the city's private citizens, often including their addresses and professions. An invaluable resource for tracing family members and understanding the social fabric of the time.
Official & Municipal Information: A complete guide to the machinery of the city. Listings for council officials, MPs, magistrates, clergy, doctors, hospitals, schools, post offices, police stations, and public transport.
Court & Bank Directory: Details of local courts, banking institutions, and their principal officials.
A Gallery of Contemporary Advertisements: The advertisements are a book in themselves! They offer a vibrant and often charming glimpse into the consumer culture of the 1950s—the products, the fashions, the typography, and the aspirational lifestyle of the era.
Who Is This Directory For?
This is an essential resource for a wide range of researchers and enthusiasts:

Genealogists & Family Historians: Pinpoint your ancestors' homes, discover their occupations, and build a vivid picture of their daily lives and neighbourhood.
Local & Social Historians: Research the evolution of districts, map the distribution of industries, and understand the social structure of post-war Manchester.
House & Property Historians: Uncover the history of your home or a building of interest by tracing its occupants and previous uses back to 1954.
Writers & Researchers: Add authentic, granular detail to novels, articles, or academic papers set in 1950s Northern England.
Nostalgists & Collectors: A perfect piece of memorabilia for anyone with a love for Manchester and its rich history, offering a powerful dose of nostalgia.
A Glimpse into Manchester in 1954
This directory captures a city at a unique crossroads. The last of the wartime rationing would soon end, the television was becoming a centrepiece of the home, and the first hints of the rock 'n' roll revolution were in the air. Yet, this is still a city of distinct communities, bustling local markets, independent family-run shops, and a powerful identity forged in industry. The streets listed here are those your parents and grandparents walked, the shops are where they bought their first post-war luxuries, and the names are those of the people who built the modern city