Pike's Directory Blue Book Of Folkestone Hythe & Sandgate 1895-1896

Pike's Directory Blue Book Of Folkestone, Hythe & Sandgate 1895-1896 – Digital Download or CD-ROM

Product Description:

Step back into the late Victorian era with this complete republication of Pike’s Directory Blue Book Of Folkestone, Hythe & Sandgate 1895-1896. An essential resource for genealogists and local historians, this directory offers a fascinating snapshot of life on the Kent coast right in the middle of the "Census Gap" between 1891 and 1901.

Format & Navigation This product is available as a high-quality digital download or on CD-ROM. Please note that this directory consists of scanned images of the original pages. While the text is not embedded or searchable within the file itself, the directories are compiled alphabetically, making manual navigation of residents and trades intuitive and fast. Additionally, most modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat, Edge, or Preview) now perform OCR (Optical Character Recognition) on the fly, allowing you to use the search function in your reader software to locate surnames and street names with ease.

Bridging the Census Gap The 1890s are a notoriously difficult decade for researchers. With the 1891 Census completed and the 1901 Census still five years away, it can be hard to trace where ancestors moved, what trades they practiced, or how their households changed. This 1895-1896 directory plugs that gap, helping you confirm family residences and occupations during this lost period.

What’s Inside the Directory? This comprehensive Blue Book is divided into several detailed sections:

• Street Directory: A systematic listing of the principal streets in Folkestone, Hythe, and Sandgate, showing the head of household or business at each address.
• Commercial & Trades Directory: An alphabetical list of trades and professions. From bakers and boot makers to solicitors and ship owners, this is invaluable for understanding the local economy.
• Private Residents Directory: An alphabetical list of private citizens, often including their addresses—a goldmine for tracing the middle and upper classes who may not appear in trade directories.
• Official & Municipal Information: Listings of local council members, magistrates, medical officers, and clergy.
• Local Institutions & Societies: Details on schools, churches, hospitals, and charitable organizations active in the area at the time.

Historical Context & Famous Connections The mid-1890s were the heyday of Folkestone as a fashionable seaside resort and a vital cross-channel port.

• Famous Residents: During this period, the area was home to various notable figures. While the great physician Dr. William Harvey (discoverer of the circulation of blood) was born in Folkestone centuries prior, his legacy dominated the town’s identity. You may also find listings for relatives of W. B. Yeats, the famous poet who frequently visited and stayed in the area during the 1890s.
• Industry & Trade: This was the golden age of the Cross-Channel Packet Service. Folkestone Harbour was bustling with activity, and the directory reflects the myriad trades supporting this vital link to the Continent.
• Sport & Leisure: The late Victorian era saw the explosion of sports clubs. The directory references the Folkestone Cricket Club and the burgeoning golf courses. The town was also a hub for musicians and entertainers visiting the Grand Hotels on the Leas.

A Note on Maps Disclaimer: Due to the age of these original source books (nearly 130 years old), fold-out maps were often removed, damaged, or lost in original copies prior to scanning. We cannot guarantee the inclusion of the original map in this specific scan. However, if the map is present and legible in the source book used for this reproduction, please treat it as a fantastic bonus!