Kelly's Directory Of Woolwich Plumstead Shooter's Hill & Charlton 1895

Kelly's Directory of Woolwich, Plumstead, Shooter's Hill & Charlton 1895 (Digital Download or CD)

Product Description

Step back into the late Victorian era with this high-quality reproduction of Kelly's Directory of Woolwich, Plumstead, Shooter's Hill & Charlton 1895. An essential resource for genealogists, local historians, and anyone researching the history of South-East London, this directory offers a fascinating snapshot of life at the height of the Industrial Revolution.

About This Format This directory is available as a Digital Download or on a CD-ROM. Please note that this product consists of scanned images of the original book. While the text is not embedded (meaning the file itself is not immediately searchable in the traditional sense), the directory is compiled alphabetically by surname and trade, making navigation intuitive and straightforward. Furthermore, most modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat) offer "OCR on the fly," allowing you to search the text using your reader's search function.

Bridging the Census Gap The 1895 release falls perfectly between the 1891 and 1901 Census years. If you have lost track of an ancestor between these censuses, or if you are trying to narrow down a date of birth, marriage, or death, this directory serves as a vital substitute census, helping you pinpoint exactly where your family lived and what they did for a living.

Local History & Notable Residents (1895) Woolwich and its surrounding villages in 1895 were bustling hubs of military might and industry.

• The Royal Arsenal: The heart of the community. This directory lists hundreds of employees, from senior officials to skilled labourers working at the Arsenal, which was the primary munitions supplier for the British Empire.
• Woolwich Arsenal FC: Born as Dial Square in 1886 and renamed Royal Arsenal in 1891, by 1895 the club was turning professional and making waves in local football. You may find early players or committee members listed within these pages.
• General Gordon: While the famous hero of Khartoum had died in 1885, his legacy loomed large over Woolwich (his birthplace) during this period. Look for references to the Gordon Boys' Home or local memorials in the institutional sections.
• Siemens Brothers: A massive employer in the area, their works in Charlton were at the forefront of cable and electrical manufacturing. The directory is filled with engineers, managers, and clerks associated with this industrial giant.

Interesting Facts About the Area in 1895

• Music & Culture: This was the golden age of the Music Hall. Many performers lived in the London suburbs, and the local pubs in Woolwich and Plumstead (detailed in the Taverns section) were regular stops for touring acts.
• Shooter’s Hill: Famous in literature (e.g., Dick Whittington and Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities), this area was still a somewhat wild, high-altitude outpost on the road to Kent, contrasting sharply with the industrial smog of the Woolwich riverside.
• Industry: Beyond the Arsenal, the area was defined by shipbuilding, cable manufacturing (Siemens), and the gas works, which dominated the skyline along the Thames.

What's Inside the Directory?

This comprehensive volume is divided into easy-to-navigate sections:

1. Maps & Topography:
   • Disclaimer: Please note that due to the age of the original source material, some fold-out street maps may have been damaged or missing prior to scanning. However, if a map was present and in scannable condition, it is included here as a fascinating bonus.
2. Directory Information & History:
   • Detailed descriptions of the topography, geology, and climate of the region.
   • Historical sketches of the Boroughs, including the history of the Royal Arsenal and the military establishments.
3. Official & Institutional Register:
   • Lists of local government officials, MPs, Justices of the Peace, and Coroners.
   • Clergy, ministers, and church officials for all denominations.
   • Schools, colleges, hospitals, and charities (including the Royal Hospital School).
4. Street Directory:
   • A thorough listing of streets in Woolwich, Plumstead, Shooter's Hill, and Charlton, showing the head of household or business at each address.
5. Private Residents Directory:
   • An alphabetical list of private residents (usually the head of the household), their addresses, and often their occupations. This is the gold standard for tracing family movements.
6. Commercial & Trades Directory:
   • A classified directory of businesses and tradesmen. From Bakers and Bootmakers to Surgical Instrument Makers and Watchmakers, if they had a shop in 1895, they are likely listed here.

Why Buy This Directory? Whether you are tracing a family tree who worked at the Arsenal, researching the early history of a famous football club, or exploring the Victorian architecture of Charlton, this directory provides the context and names that bring history to life.

Format: PDF (Compatible with PC, Mac, and Tablets). Delivery: Instant Digital Download or Physical CD-ROM mailed to your address.