Kelly's Directory Of London 1914

Kelly's Directory of London 1914: The Capital on the Brink of Change

Step back in time to the long, hot summer of 1914. London is the vibrant, bustling heart of a global empire, a city of horse-drawn hansom cabs, burgeoning motor cars, and rigid social hierarchies. It is a world poised on the precipice of the Great War, a moment captured forever in the pages of this definitive volume.

More than just a book of names and addresses, Kelly's Directory of London 1914 is a complete social and commercial time capsule. It is the ultimate key to unlocking the city as it truly was, offering an unparalleled street-level view of life in the Edwardian era.

Inside this indispensable historical record, you will discover:

The Street Directory: A comprehensive, street-by-street listing of virtually every household in London, with the head of the family or business named. Find the exact address of your ancestors and discover their neighbours.
The Commercial Directory: An alphabetical list of trades and professions, from acrobats to zoologists. See where the city's bakers, bankers, and bookbinders plied their trade.
The Court & Official Directory: A guide to the city's machinery of power, including government departments, law courts, hospitals, churches, and public institutions.
Fascinating Advertisements: Original period ads for everything from patent medicines to grand hotels, providing a vivid and often charming insight into the consumer culture of the day.
Who is this for?

The Family Historian: Trace your London ancestors, locate their homes, and understand their occupations. This is an essential resource to bridge the gap between the 1911 Census and the post-war years.
The Local Historian: Research the history of your house, street, or neighbourhood. See which shops and businesses lined your high street over a century ago.
The Social Historian & Academic: A primary source of immense value for studying urban life, class structures, and the economic landscape of pre-WWI Britain.
The Lover of London: A endlessly browsable treasure trove for anyone fascinated by the city's rich and complex past.
This is not merely a directory; it is a doorway to a lost world. Add this cornerstone of London's history to your collection and walk the streets of 1914.