Folthorp's Directory & Court Guide Of Brighton & Hove 1859

Product Description

Unlock the secrets of Sussex’s most fashionable seaside resort in the mid-Victorian era with this exact reproduction of Folthorp's Directory & Court Guide of Brighton & Hove 1859.

Available as a high-quality digital download or on a convenient CD-ROM, this fascinating volume offers an intimate snapshot of life just before the full swing of the Victorian industrial boom. Whether you are tracing your family tree or researching local history, this directory serves as an invaluable bridge between the 1851 and 1861 censuses.

Why You Need This Directory

The "Missing" Ancestors Solution: Much like today, historical distrust of government "interference" was not uncommon. In the 19th century, many residents refused to fill in census forms or were simply absent when the enumerator called, fearing new taxes or simply valuing their privacy. If your ancestors seem to have vanished from the official census records, there is a very good chance they are listed right here in Folthorp’s Directory.

What’s Inside?

This directory is a comprehensive scan of the original book, presented in easy-to-navigate PDF format.

• Court Guide & Private Residents: An alphabetical listing of the gentry, nobility, and prominent citizens living in Brighton and Hove at the time.
• Street Directory: A thorough run-down of the streets of Brighton and Hove, showing the head of household at each address.
• Commercial & Trades Directory: Find out what your ancestors did for a living! From hoteliers and lodging house keepers to the essential tradesmen who kept the town running.
• Official Information: Details of local corporations, public institutions, churches, and officials.

Navigation & Search

Please note: This product consists of scanned images of the original text. The pages are not digitized as searchable text. However, due to the strictly alphabetical nature of the directory (both for names and trades), navigation is straightforward and intuitive.

Tip: Most modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat or browser-based viewers) now perform OCR (Optical Character Recognition) on the fly, allowing you to search the text for specific surnames or street names, enhancing the usability of these historical scans.

Historical Snapshot: Brighton & Hove in 1859

This was a time of transition. The London to Brighton railway line had opened the floodgates to tourism, transforming the town from a quiet fishing village into a bustling metropolis for the wealthy and the working-class alike.

• Local Industry: While tourism was king, the Brighton Railway Works was a major employer, and the local fishing fleet in Hove remained a vital part of the local economy.
• Sports & Leisure: Cricket was wildly popular, with the Sussex County Cricket Club already established. The famous Brighton Chain Pier was the center of entertainment, offering band concerts and promenades before its eventual destruction.
• Famous Residents & Connections:
  • Charles Dickens: The great author had strong ties to Brighton, often staying and writing in the area.
  • Caroline of Brunswick: While she died earlier in 1821, her memory and the remnants of her controversial presence in the town still lingered in the social fabric of 1859.
  • Squire Anthony Trollope: The renowned novelist frequently visited and had connections with the area during this period.

Important Note Regarding Maps

Original directory maps were often fragile and prone to being removed or lost over the last 160+ years. While we cannot guarantee the presence of the original fold-out map in every copy, if the map is present in this specific scan, it is a fantastic bonus that offers a rare bird’s-eye view of the Victorian street layout.

Product Specifications

• Format: PDF (Digital Download) or CD-ROM
• Year: 1859
• Region: Brighton & Hove, Sussex
• Type: Scanned Images (Facsimile)

Start your journey into the past today and find the names that the census forgot!