The Post Office Directory Of Edinburgh & Leith 1912-1913

Unlock Your Edinburgh & Leith Ancestors in the 1912-1913 Post Office Directory

Imagine walking the cobbled streets of Edwardian Edinburgh just before the Great War. The clatter of trams, the cry of the newsboy, the scent of coal smoke on the air. What if you could find the very door your great-grandfather walked through, the shop where your great-aunt was a milliner, or the office where your ancestor signed his name?

You don't need a time machine. You need a key.

The Post Office Directory of Edinburgh & Leith for 1912-1913 is your essential time machine, your indispensable guide to the world your ancestors knew. More than just a list of names, this is a fascinating social document and a powerful research tool that captures a vibrant city on the cusp of a new era.

What Is This Directory?

Published in a time when the telephone was a luxury and the postman was a community's lifeline, the Post Office Directory was the Google of its day. It was the definitive record of who lived where, what they did for a living, and how to contact them. For the modern genealogist, it serves as a crucial census substitute, filling the gap between the 1911 census and the disruption of the First World War.

A Treasure Trove of Genealogical Information: What's Inside?

This meticulously reproduced directory is packed with details that will bring your family history to life:

Alphabetical List of Private Residents: The head of nearly every household in the city is listed, along with their profession or trade and their address. Find your ancestor by name and pinpoint their exact location.
Comprehensive Street Directory: Walk down virtual streets! See a complete list of heads of household for every address on every street, from the grand terraces of the New Town to the bustling tenements of the Old Town and the port of Leith. Discover who their neighbours were!
Professional & Trade Directory: What did your ancestors do? Find them listed under their trade—bakers, solicitors, engineers, grocers, printers, dockworkers, and more. This is your key to understanding their daily lives and social standing.
Commercial Directory: Discover the businesses that defined the city. Was your ancestor a shopkeeper, a publican, or the owner of a small factory? See their advertisements and official listings.
Official, Municipal, and Ecclesiastical Information: Learn about the structure of the city. Find details on magistrates, councillors, churches, ministers, schools, and public institutions that shaped your ancestor's world.
Captivating Advertisements: The period ads are a goldmine, offering a glimpse into the products, services, and aspirations of the time. You might even find an ad for a family business!
Why You Need This Directory for Your Research:

Break Down Brick Walls: Stuck after the 1911 census? This directory helps you trace family movements and confirm locations in the years leading up to WWI.
Add Colour to Your Family Tree: Go beyond names and dates. Discover their occupation, their community, and their street, transforming a simple chart into a rich story.
Confirm and Corroborate: Use the directory to validate information from other sources, such as marriage certificates or census records.
Understand Their World: Gain context. Who were the local doctors? Where was the nearest church? What was the main industry in their neighbourhood?
The Perfect Edinburgh & Leith Combination: This single volume covers both the royal capital and its vital port town of Leith, essential for researching ancestors who may have worked in the docks, shipbuilding, or maritime trade.