The Post Office Directory Of Hampshire & The Isle Of Wight 1859

The Post Office Directory of Hampshire & The Isle of Wight 1859 (Digital Download or CD)

Product Description:

Step back into the mid-Victorian era with this fascinating republishing of The Post Office Directory of Hampshire & The Isle Of Wight 1859. Perfect for genealogists, local historians, and anyone researching the South of England, this comprehensive directory offers a snapshot of life just two years before the start of the American Civil War and at the height of the British Empire.

Whether your ancestors were wealthy merchants in Southampton, dockworkers in Portsmouth, or agricultural laborers in the rolling Hampshire countryside, this directory provides the crucial link between the 1851 and 1861 census years.

Navigating the Directory

This directory is a high-quality scan of the original 1859 publication, comprising thousands of pages. Because these are scanned images, the text is not embedded or searchable in the traditional sense. However, the directory has been meticulously organized alphabetically by town and by surname, making navigation intuitive and straightforward.

Tip: While this is an image-based PDF, most modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat or browser-based viewers) offer "OCR on the fly." This means you can often use the "Find" function (Ctrl+F or Command+F) to search for surnames, street names, or trades, though accuracy may vary depending on the clarity of the original Victorian print.

Filling the Census Gaps

For family historians, the decade between 1851 and 1861 can be a black hole. Ancestors moved, died, or remarried, and tracking their movements can be difficult. This directory bridges that gap perfectly. It allows you to confirm:

• Residence at a specific address in 1859.
• Occupations and trades (often changing between census years).
• The presence of adult children who may have left the family home by 1861.

Contents & Breakdown

This volume is extensive and divided into easy-to-use sections:

1. General Information & Topography: A detailed history and description of the county, including geology, agriculture, and major public institutions.
2. Court & Parliamentary Directory: Lists of local officials, MPs, magistrates, and clergy.
3. Town & Street Directories: Detailed listings for major hubs including Winchester, Portsmouth, Southampton, Gosport, and Newport, as well as smaller villages.
4. Private Residents Directory: An alphabetical list of the gentry, traders, and professionals.
5. Classified Trades Directory: A comprehensive "Yellow Pages" of the 19th century, listing everyone from Anchor Smiths to Wool Staplers.

Historical Context & Famous Residents

1859 was a year of significant industrial and social change in the region.

• The Royal Connection: Queen Victoria was a frequent resident of the Isle of Wight at Osborne House, near East Cowes. Her presence shaped the local economy and society, and this directory lists the local tradespeople and officials who supported the royal household.
• Literary Giants: The great poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson was residing at Farringford House in Freshwater, Isle of Wight, during this period. You can explore the neighborhood directory to see who his neighbors and local suppliers were.
• Naval Power: Portsmouth was the heart of the Royal Navy. With the launch of the ironclad warship HMS Warrior just around the corner (1860), the dockyards were bustling. This directory lists the shipwrights, ropemakers, and merchants supporting the fleet.
• The Nursing Pioneer: Florence Nightingale had strong ties to the county; her family home was at Embley Park near Romsey. While she was often traveling or establishing her nursing school in London post-Crimean War, her family’s local influence is deeply rooted in this area.
• Sport & Industry: The Hampshire County Cricket Club was formalized around this time, reflecting the region's love for sport. Meanwhile, the region was a hub for the wool trade and straw plaiting (hat making), industries that employed thousands of women and children across the county.

Map Availability & Disclaimer

Please Note: In many original antiquarian directories, maps were often removed by previous owners or lost over the last 160 years. 

Product Details

• Format: PDF (Digital Download) or CD-ROM.
• Compatibility: Readable on any PC, Mac, or Tablet using standard PDF software.
• Search: Alphabetical navigation; compatible with modern PDF OCR features.