Kelly's Directory Of Leicester 1954

Kelly’s Directory of Leicester 1954 - Digital Download & CD Edition

Product Description:

Step back into the vibrant post-war era of Leicester with this high-quality digital reproduction of the 1954 Kelly’s Directory. This essential genealogy resource offers a fascinating snapshot of life in the Midlands during the early years of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. Whether you are tracing your family tree, researching local history, or exploring the industrial heritage of the city, this directory is an indispensable tool.

About This Format This directory is available as a convenient Digital Download (PDF format) or on a CD-ROM.

Please Note: This directory consists of scanned images of the original pages. While the text is not embedded (meaning it is not instantly searchable in the traditional sense), navigation is incredibly straightforward due to the alphabetical arrangement of the sections. Furthermore, most modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat, Edge, or Preview) now feature "OCR on the fly." This allows you to use the "Find" function (Ctrl+F / Cmd+F) to search for surnames and street names directly within the software, making research much faster than with the original book.

Why the 1954 Directory is Vital for Genealogists For family historians, this directory fills a critical gap. The 1931 Census was destroyed during the war, and no census was taken in 1941 due to WWII. The 1951 Census will not be released until 2052. Therefore, the 1954 Kelly’s Directory serves as one of the closest available "census substitutes" for this period, helping you pinpoint exactly where your ancestors lived and what they did for a living over 70 years ago.

A Glimpse into Leicester in 1954 This was a time when Leicester was asserting itself as the engineering and hosiery capital of Britain.

• Industry & Economy: The city was bustling with activity, home to giants of the textile and engineering worlds. The famous "Liberty" shoe works and massive hosiery factories were in full swing, employing thousands of local residents.
• Sport: 1954 was a great year for Leicester City FC (The Foxes), who were competing strongly in the Second Division, while the legendary Leicester Tigers rugby club continued to dominate local sporting headlines.
• Famous Residents: While 18-year-old Joe Orton was just beginning to explore his theatrical talents in the city before his rise to fame, the city was also the early home of the Attenborough family. David Attenborough, by 1954, had begun his legendary broadcasting career, but his father, Frederick, was a noted academic figure in the city. You may even spot the names of local musicians who were part of the thriving jazz scene in the city's pubs.

Contents of the Directory This comprehensive volume is divided into clear, easy-to-use sections:

1. Street Directory: An alphabetical listing of the streets of Leicester, showing the house numbers and the names of the householders or tradesmen at each address. Perfect for tracking down a specific family home.
2. Commercial Directory: A classified list of trades and professions. From Chemists to Coach Builders and Fishmongers to Framework Knitters, this allows you to see the business landscape of the city.
3. Private Residents Directory: An alphabetical list of the private residents (heads of households) of the town, often excluding the working classes but covering the middle and upper classes extensively.
4. Official & Municipal Information: Details of the City Council, officials, magistrates, and public institutions, providing context on how the city was governed.
5. Court Directory: Similar to the private residents' list but often more exclusive, covering the gentry and professionals.

Important Disclaimer Every effort has been made to provide a complete reproduction of the original 1954 directory. However, please be aware that in the original printing, some maps or pages may have been missing or damaged.

• Bonus: If the original map section was present and in good condition in the source book used for scanning, it will be included in this digital version. If present, it serves as a wonderful visual guide to the post-war layout of the city.

Reconnect with your Leicester roots today!