The Post Office Directory Of Suffolk 1875

Unlock Your Victorian Suffolk Ancestors: The Post Office Directory of Suffolk 1875

Go beyond names and dates. Step into the world your ancestors knew and discover the stories hidden in this unique genealogical treasure.

Are your roots deep in the rich soil of Suffolk? Do you wonder who your great-great-grandparents were, not just in 1871 or 1881, but in the years in between?

The census provides a snapshot every ten years, but the Post Office Directory of Suffolk 1875 fills in the crucial details. It's your personal time machine to the heart of Victorian East Anglia, offering a vibrant, street-level view of the county and its people midway through Queen Victoria's reign.

Imagine walking down the streets of Ipswich, exploring the market squares of Bury St Edmunds, or visiting the coastal villages of Lowestoft and Felixstowe as they were in 1875. This directory allows you to do just that, placing your ancestors directly into the fabric of their daily lives.

What Fascinating Family History Will You Discover Inside?

This meticulously scanned and searchable digital directory is packed with invaluable information for the family historian:

Names & Addresses: Find your ancestors listed as heads of household, prominent tradesmen, or professionals. Discover the exact street or village where they lived and worked.

Occupations & Trades: Was your ancestor a fisherman in Aldeburgh, a farmer in the Breckland, a weaver in Sudbury, or an innkeeper in a quiet village? The directory provides their specific trade, offering a direct link to their skills and social standing.

Business Advertisements: See the original advertisements for your ancestor's business! These charming Victorian ads provide unique details about the goods and services they offered.

Private Residents & Gentry: The "Court Directory" section lists the county's landowners, clergy, and professional classes, helping you trace the more prominent branches of your family tree.

Comprehensive County Information: Gain a deeper understanding of your ancestor's world. The directory includes detailed descriptions of each parish, its history, transport links, public facilities, and local officials—from the postmaster to the parish clerk.

Why This 1875 Directory is a Genealogist's Goldmine:

Bridge the Gap Between Censuses: Pinpoint your ancestor's location and occupation in 1875, five years after the 1871 census and five years before 1881.

Flesh Out the Bones of Your Family Tree: Transform a simple name and date into a real person with a profession, an address, and a place in their community.

Break Down Brick Walls: Can't find a family in the census? The directory might list them under a different name variation or simply in a location you hadn't considered.

Understand Their Community: Discover who their neighbours were, who ran the local pub, who they might have bought bread from, and who the village doctor was. It's the ultimate social context.

A Glimpse Inside...

Instead of just knowing you had an ancestor named "Thomas Webb," you could discover an entry like this:

"Webb, Thomas, (Mrs.) Baker & Grocer, 14 Market Hill, Framlingham."

Suddenly, Thomas's wife is a business owner! You have their exact address, their trade, and a powerful new lead for your research. This is the colour and context that brings your family history to life.