Bennett's Business Directory Of Somersetshire 1898

Bennett's Business Directory Of Somersetshire 1898

Unlock the World of Your Somersetshire Ancestors in 1898

Have you ever wished you could step beyond the names and dates on your family tree and see the world your ancestors inhabited? With Bennett's Business Directory of Somersetshire from 1898, you can do just that. This invaluable resource is more than a list; it's a time capsule that places your entrepreneurial ancestors, craftsmen, and tradesmen directly into the bustling heart of Victorian life.

Please Note: This is a commercial business directory. It focuses on the business owners, merchants, farmers, and tradespeople of Somersetshire and does not include private residents' household listings.

Why This 1898 Directory is Essential for Your Genealogy Research:
For any family historian with roots in Somersetshire, this directory is a powerful tool for adding colour, context, and concrete details to your family story.

Reconstruct Their Daily World: Discover the street where your ancestor's blacksmith shop, bakery, or inn was located. See who their neighbours were—the grocer, the draper, the banker—and build a vivid picture of their immediate community.

Confirm and Enrich Occupational Details: Move beyond a simple "farmer" or "merchant" entry on a census. The directory can provide the specific name of their farm or business, their trade, and their exact location, adding professional depth to their life story.

Break Through Research Brick Walls: If an ancestor seems to disappear between census years, a directory search can reveal if they moved and established a new business in a different town or village within Somersetshire.

Uncover Family Businesses & Partnerships: Many listings are for "Smith & Sons" or "Jones Brothers," providing tantalising clues about family-run enterprises and potential relatives working together.
Understand Their Social and Economic Standing: The type and scale of a business listed can offer significant clues about your ancestor's financial status and standing within the local community.

What You Will Find Inside:

This comprehensive directory meticulously catalogues the commercial life of Somersetshire at the end of the 19th century. You will find listings for:

Major Towns & Cities: Detailed street-by-street listings for commercial hubs like Bath, Bridgwater, Taunton, Wells, and Yeovil.
Villages & Hamlets: A complete alphabetical list of every village, with its traders, farmers, and publicans.
A Wide Range of Professions: From Agricultural Implement Makers, Bakers, and Brewers to Saddlers, Tailors, and Wheelwrights.
Professional Services: Listings for Solicitors, Doctors, Bankers, and Surveyors.
Official Information: A county directory listing officials, clergy, and postal services.

A Glimpse into Victorian Advertising:
Many directories of this era are filled with original, illustrated advertisements for local businesses. These ads are a fantastic resource, offering a unique and often charming insight into the products, services, and language of the time.