Besley's Directory Of Exeter & Suburbs 1909

Step Through the Door of Your Exeter Ancestry: Besley's Directory of 1909

Unlock the secrets of your family's past in Edwardian Exeter with this indispensable genealogical treasure.

Imagine walking the cobbled streets of Exeter in 1909. The air is filled with the clatter of horse-drawn carts, the murmur of trade from the market, and the glow of gas lamps beginning to flicker in the evening twilight. Were your ancestors there? Did they live on Queen Street, run a shop in Fore Street, or attend a service at the Cathedral?

Now, you can walk in their footsteps.

Besley's Directory of Exeter & Suburbs 1909 is more than just a book; it's a time machine and a master key for any family historian with roots in Devon. This meticulously detailed snapshot of Edwardian life provides the crucial context that transforms names and dates into a vibrant, living story.

What Genealogical Gold Will You Discover Inside?

This comprehensive directory is packed with the information you crave:

Private Residents Directory: An alphabetical list of heads of households, their occupations, and their full addresses. The perfect tool to pinpoint exactly where your family lived and confirm their social standing.
Commercial & Trades Directory: A complete classified list of businesses and tradesmen, from bakers and blacksmiths to drapers and dentists. Discover what your ancestors did for a living and locate their premises on a map.
Street Directory: A street-by-street guide to Exeter and its suburbs, listing every house number and its head of resident. Invaluable for reconstructing entire neighbourhoods and understanding who your family's neighbours were.
Official Information: Find listings for the City Council, magistrates, clergy, doctors, solicitors, and other public figures. Place your ancestors within the official structure of the city.
Authentic Advertisements: A fascinating collection of contemporary ads offering a unique window into the products, services, and daily life of the time. See the world through your ancestors' eyes!
Why This 1909 Directory is a Must-Have for Your Research:

Bridge the Census Gap: It’s the perfect resource for locating family members between the 1901 and 1911 censuses.
Confirm & Enrich: Verify details found on other records and add rich layers of context about occupation, location, and community.
Break Down Brick Walls: Stuck on an ancestor? A directory entry can provide the vital clue you need to move your research forward.
Bring Your Family Tree to Life: Move beyond a simple chart and start telling the real story of your family's life in Edwardian Exeter.