The Post Office Directory Of Edinburgh & Leith 1916-1917

Unlock Your Edinburgh & Leith Ancestors: The Essential 1916-1917 Post Office Directory

Step back in time to a pivotal moment in Scotland's history. The year is 1916. The Great War casts a long shadow, yet in the historic streets of Edinburgh and the bustling port of Leith, life continues. Now, you can walk those streets alongside your ancestors.

The Post Office Directory of Edinburgh & Leith 1916-1917 is more than just a book of names; it's a time capsule. For the genealogist, it is an indispensable key that unlocks the world your family inhabited between the 1911 and 1921 censuses—a period of profound change, sacrifice, and resilience.

What secrets will you discover inside?

This comprehensive directory is a goldmine of information, placing your ancestors directly into the fabric of their community.

✓ Residential Directory (Alphabetical): Quickly locate individuals and families by name. Find your great-grandfather's full name, his address, and often his profession, all in a single entry.
✓ Street Directory: Go beyond the name and explore their neighbourhood. See who lived next door, who ran the local shop, and build a vivid picture of the community that shaped your ancestor's daily life.
✓ Commercial & Trades Directory: Was your ancestor a skilled mason, a merchant on the Royal Mile, or a solicitor? Discover their trade, their business address, and their place in the city's commercial landscape. Perfect for understanding their social standing and daily work.
✓ Official & Court Directory: Identify the city’s movers and shakers. Find listings for MPs, magistrates, council members, and officials who governed Edinburgh and Leith during the war years.
✓ Fascinating Advertisements: Immerse yourself in the era! Advertisements for everything from wartime remedies to the latest fashions provide a rich, colourful, and often surprising glimpse into the values, needs, and desires of the time.
Why This 1916-1917 Directory is a Must-Have for Your Research:

Bridge the Census Gap: This directory is your single most powerful tool for tracing family movements in the five years between the 1911 and 1921 censuses. Did they move? Did their occupation change? Find out here.
Contextualise The Great War: See how the war impacted the city. Trace the families left behind, the women who may have taken on new roles, and the businesses that adapted to a nation at war.
A Complete Picture: Combine names, addresses, and occupations to add colour, detail, and humanity to your family tree, transforming names and dates into living, breathing stories.