Kelly's Directory Of Dorsetshire 1889

Kelly's Directory of Dorsetshire 1889 - Digital Download or CD-ROM

Product Description:

Step back into the Victorian era with this comprehensive repertory of Kelly's Directory of Dorsetshire 1889. An essential resource for genealogists and local historians, this directory offers a fascinating snapshot of life in Dorset just before the turn of the century.

Bridging the Census Gap For family historians, the decade between the 1881 and 1891 censuses can often be a "blind spot." Ancestors moved, passed away, or changed trades in this period. This 1889 directory serves as the perfect bridge, filling in those missing years by locating your ancestors precisely at this point in time. It is particularly valuable for tracking the movements of families between the two national census counts.

What's Inside the Directory? This directory is meticulously scanned from the original book and is presented in a high-quality PDF format. While the text consists of scanned images and is not inherently searchable, the alphabetical nature of the listings makes navigation intuitive and simple. Additionally, many modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat) now perform OCR (Optical Character Recognition) on the fly, allowing you to search the text using the "Find" function within your viewer software.

The directory is divided into several detailed sections:

1. County Information: A comprehensive overview of Dorset’s topography, geology, and agriculture. It includes details on the Magistrates, the Deanery, and the County establishments.
2. Court Directory (The Private Residents): An alphabetical list of the gentry, clergy, and prominent citizens living in the county at the time. If your ancestor was of a higher social standing or a professional, they will likely be listed here by name and residence.
3. Town & Commercial Directory: Organized by town and village, this section provides a street-by-street and trade-by-trade breakdown. From the mayor of Dorchester to the local blacksmith in Bridport, this is where the majority of your working-class ancestors will appear.
4. Trades Directory: A classified professional directory allowing you to see who was working in specific industries, from grocers and drapers to wheelwrights and innkeepers.

Historical Context & Famous Residents of 1889 Dorset Dorset in the late 19th century was a county in transition, balancing its ancient agricultural roots with the encroaching industrial revolution.

• Literary Greats: The year 1889 falls squarely within the period when Thomas Hardy was at the height of his powers. Having recently published The Woodlanders (1887), Hardy was living at his home, Max Gate in Dorchester (which he built in 1885). You may find references to him or his architectural business in the Dorchester sections.
• The Tolpuddle Legacy: While the Martyrs were exiled decades earlier, the agricultural labor movement they sparked was still a vital part of the social fabric of Dorset villages in 1889.
• Industry & Economy: This directory captures the height of the Dorset button industry (before mass production rendered it obsolete) and the thriving net and rope making trades in Bridport. You will also find details on the Quarrying industry, specifically the famous Portland Stone being shipped out to build London.
• Music & Culture: Look out for the listings for local brass bands and choirs, which were the heartbeat of village social life. The Dorset County Chronicle, widely circulated at the time, often reported on these gatherings, many of whose members are listed within these pages.
• Sport: Cricket was immensely popular, and many villages will list a "Cricket Ground" or a "Cricket Club Secretary." The Dorset County Cricket Club was active during this period, playing against neighboring counties.

Format & Accessibility This product is available as a Digital Download or on a CD-ROM. The files are in PDF format, readable on any computer or tablet. Because these are high-resolution scans of the original 130-year-old pages, they preserve the authentic look and feel of the Victorian era.

Important Disclaimer Regarding Maps Please be aware that the original source book for this directory may have had maps removed or lost prior to scanning. While the textual content is complete, we cannot guarantee the presence or completeness of any fold-out county or town maps that may have accompanied the original publication.