Kelly's Directory Of Berkshire 1915

Kelly's Directory of Berkshire 1915 - Digital Download or CD

Product Description:

Step back into the height of the Edwardian era and the early years of the First World War with this comprehensive repertory of Berkshire. A invaluable resource for genealogists and local historians, this directory offers a fascinating snapshot of life in the county in 1915.

Product Format & Navigation Please note that this product is supplied as a high-quality digital reproduction of the original scanned book. The text consists of scanned images and is not embedded as searchable text. However, thanks to the alphabetical arrangement of the entries, navigation is straightforward. Furthermore, most modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat) offer Optical Character Recognition (OCR) "on the fly," allowing you to search the document for specific surnames or street names using your reader's search function.

What’s Inside the Directory This extensive volume is divided into several useful sections to aid your research:

• Court Directory (Private Residents): An alphabetical list of the gentry, clergy, and prominent private residents living in the county at the time.
• Commercial & Trades Directory: A comprehensive alphabetical list of businesses and tradesmen, from bakers and blacksmiths to wheelwrights and wine merchants.
• Street Directory: Detailed listings for major towns such as Reading, showing the head of the household or business for every street.
• Parish & Village Directory: Information for every hamlet, village, and parish in Berkshire, including local council officials, clergy, and farmers.
• County Information: Details on the Magistrates, the Shire Hall, public institutions, and geology of the area.

Bridging the Census Gap This directory is an essential tool for filling the "Census Gap." With the 1911 Census being the last publicly available census until 1921, this 1915 directory acts as a vital interim census substitute. It allows you to track family movements, verify addresses, and confirm occupations of your ancestors during the early years of WWI, a period of significant migration and social change.

Berkshire Life in 1915 Discover the rich industrial and social heritage of the county as it was over a century ago:

• Industry: In 1915, Berkshire was a hub of manufacturing, particularly in Reading. The "Three Bs" (Biscuits, Beer, and Seeds) dominated the local economy. You will find listings for the famous Huntley & Palmers biscuit factory, Sutton’s Seeds, and the extensive breweries like Simonds (later Courage).
• Sport: The football craze was well underway. Reading Football Club, founded in 1871, was playing at their Elm Park ground during this season (in the Southern League Division One), and the directory may list officials or grounds staff associated with the club.
• Royalty: As the home of Windsor Castle, the directory highlights the Royal presence. King George V and Queen Mary were regular residents at the Castle during this period, and the directory details the royal household staff and the officials of the Windsor privy purse.
• Notable Residents: While many famous figures born in Berkshire (like the landscape artist John Constable) had passed by 1915, the county was home to leading figures of the day, including military officers stationed at various barracks around the county due to the war effort.

Important Disclaimer Please be aware that, in the original publication from which this scan is taken, several maps were missing or were never bound into the directory. As such, this product may not contain the full set of county or town maps typically expected in a Kelly's directory. We have endeavored to provide the complete text and all available plates.