Potts's Banbury Almanack & Local Directory 1856

A Window to Victorian Banbury: Potts's Almanack & Local Directory for 1856

Step back in time and walk the streets of Banbury as they were over 160 years ago. This is not just a book; it is a time capsule, a comprehensive snapshot of a bustling market town on the cusp of the modern age. Potts's Banbury Almanack & Local Directory for 1856 is your indispensable key to unlocking the world of your ancestors and understanding the fabric of local life in the Victorian era.

The Treasure Within:

Within these pages, you will find a rich tapestry of information that brings 1856 Banbury to life. Discover:

A Complete Residential & Commercial Directory: An alphabetical list of private residents, heads of household, and their occupations. Find the blacksmiths, bakers, grocers, and innkeepers who formed the backbone of the town.
A Classified Trade Directory: Need to find a carpenter, a solicitor, or a doctor? This section organises every tradesman and professional, making it an invaluable resource for understanding the local economy.
Local Officials & Institutions: The names of the Mayor, councillors, clergy, police, and other public figures, providing a clear picture of the town's governance.
Fascinating Advertisements: Marvel at the original advertisements for patent medicines, fashionable clothing, agricultural tools, and local services. These ads offer a unique and often charming insight into the concerns and desires of the time.
Practical Almanac Information: Including a calendar for the year, phases of the moon, sunrise and sunset times, postal rates, and coach and train connections, grounding the historical data in the daily realities of life.
Who Is This For?

The Genealogist: Trace your Banbury family history, locate where your ancestors lived and worked, and add rich context to your family tree.
The Local Historian: Research the evolution of the town, its prominent families, and its commercial landscape with a primary source document.