Melville & Co's Directory Of Wolverhampton 1851

Step Through a Portal to Victorian Wolverhampton: Melville & Co's Directory of 1851

Unlock the secrets of your town and your family in this definitive snapshot of Wolverhampton at the height of the Industrial Revolution.

Imagine the air thick with the promise of industry, the clatter of horseshoes on cobbled streets, and the bustling energy of a town forging the future. This is the Wolverhampton of 1851, captured in exquisite detail within the pages of Melville & Co's essential directory.

More than just a list of names, this book is a living, breathing time machine. It’s the key to unlocking the stories of the people who walked the streets before you, the businesses that formed the backbone of the community, and the very fabric of daily life in a pivotal moment of history.

Inside this invaluable treasure, you will discover:

A Comprehensive Alphabetical Directory: Trace your ancestors and notable residents. Find their full names, their occupations—from master locksmith to cordwainer, grocer to ironmonger—and their exact street addresses.
A Fascinating Trade Directory: Explore the commercial backbone of Victorian Wolverhampton. See which industries thrived, who supplied the town’s goods, and how commerce was organised.
A Complete Street Directory: Walk the streets of 1851 in your mind. See who lived next door to your great-great-grandparents and map the neighbourhoods as they once were.
Civic & Institutional Information: Discover the town’s officials, clergy, doctors, lawyers, and schoolmasters. Understand the structure of the society that governed and served the people.
Authentic Contemporary Advertisements: Delight in the charming and often verbose advertisements of the day, offering a unique glimpse into the products, services, and aspirations of Victorian Wolverhampton’s citizens.
Why 1851 Matters:
This isn't just any year. 1851 was the year of the Great Exhibition, a time of immense national pride and industrial innovation. It is also a census year, making this directory an indispensable cross-reference tool for any genealogist, allowing you to add rich colour and context to the bare facts of the census records.

The Perfect Resource For:

Genealogists tracing family roots in Wolverhampton.
Local Historians researching the town's development.
Social Historians studying Victorian life and industry.
Anyone with a love for Wolverhampton and a desire to connect with its past.