Kelly's Directory Of Reading And Caversham 1939 Wartime Census Substitute

Kelly's Directory of Reading & Caversham 1939 – The Ultimate Wartime Census Substitute (Digital Download or CD)

 

Product Description

Bridge the 1931–1951 Census Gap & Find Your Missing Ancestors

As any seasoned genealogist knows, the 1931 England and Wales census was destroyed in a fire, and the 1941 census was cancelled due to WWII. While the 1939 Register is a fantastic resource, it is not complete. Just as we see periods of government distrust today, many civilians in 1939 viewed the wartime registration with deep suspicion. Concerns over conscription, taxation, and state overreach led a significant number of people to actively refuse to fill out their forms, give false information, or simply evade the registrars entirely.

If your ancestors dodged the 1939 Register, there is a high chance they are listed right here.

Kelly’s Directory of Reading and Caversham 1939 serves as the perfect "census substitute," capturing the exact moment Britain entered the Second World War. Whether you are tracking down a elusive great-uncle or mapping out your family’s neighborhood, this directory is an absolute goldmine.

Modern Tech Meets 1930s History

This product consists of high-quality scanned images of the original directory, but don't let the word "scanned" fool you—navigating it is a breeze. Because Kelly'sDirectories are inherently alphabetical by surname and street, you can easily flip to the section you need without relying on a perfect index.

Furthermore, by using a modern PDF reader (like Adobe Acrobat, Edge, or Chrome) on a desktop PC, this historical document gains superpowers:

• On-the-Fly OCR: Modern browsers automatically recognize the text in the scanned images, allowing you to use Ctrl+F to search for surnames, street names, or professions instantly.
• Built-in Google Lens: Highlight any tricky text, right-click, and use Google Lens to grab the text flawlessly.
• Text-to-Speech: Having trouble reading the old typography? Simply activate the "Read Aloud" function in your PDF reader, and your computer will read the directory entries out loud to you.
• Instant Translation: If you are sharing your findings with international relatives, modern PDF readers can translate the text into dozens of languages with a single click.

What’s Inside? (Section by Section)

• Borough & Civil Information: Detailed historical notes on Reading and Caversham’s governance, magistrates, council members, and local officials.
• Street Directory: A house-by-house, street-by-street listing of the heads of households. Perfect for mapping out who lived next door to your ancestors.
• Alphabetical Private Residents: The core genealogical section. A strict A-Z list of private citizens, their occupations, and their exact street addresses.
• Commercial & Trades Directory: Find out exactly what your ancestors did for a living. From blacksmiths to bankers, this section lists every business and tradesperson in the borough.
• Classified Trades: A Yellow Pages-style breakdown by profession (e.g., all the Boot Makers, all the Greengrocers).
• Advertisements: Fascinating period ads for local businesses, giving you a real feel for the wartime local economy.

Please Note: Due to the paper rationing and printing constraints of late 1939, some editions of Kelly's Directories were issued without their traditional fold-out maps. We have included any maps that were present in the original binding, but please consider complete maps a bonus if they appear in this specific edition.

A Snapshot of Reading & Caversham in 1939

Reading in 1939 was a bustling, industrial powerhouse known as the "Three Bs" – Biscuits, Beer, and Bulbs. As you browse this directory, you will be walking the streets alongside the workers and owners of legendary local institutions:

• Industry Titans: You will find the managers and employees of Huntley & Palmers (the world’s largest biscuit manufacturer at the time) and Suttons Seeds (which was vital to the wartime "Dig for Victory" effort). You'll also see listings for the local brewing dynasties like Simonds' Brewery.
• Sports: Football fans will spot names associated with Reading Football Club, who were playing at their historic Elm Park ground during the 1939-40 season before it was suspended due to WWII.
• Culture & Music: While the famous Reading Festival wouldn't begin for another three decades, the town had a rich musical life. You may find members of the Reading Philharmonic Orchestra or local theatre performers who were entertaining troops and civilians on the home front.
• Famous Faces: While browsing, keep an eye out for the residences of notable literary and historical figures tied to the area. The directory captures the twilight of the Victorian/Edwardian elite, and you may spot descendants of famous figures like Jane Austen (who attended school in Reading) or Oscar Wilde (whose infamous imprisonment at Reading Gaol cemented the town's place in literary history).

Formats Available

Choose the format that works best for your research style:

1. Digital Download: Get instant access after checkout. No waiting, no shipping fees. Start searching for your ancestors immediately.
2. CD-ROM: Perfect for those who want a physical backup, prefer to work offline, or want to give a unique gift to a family historian. (Shipped via standard post).

Don't let the 1931 fire and 1941 war gap stop your research. Add Kelly's Directory of Reading & Caversham 1939 to your cart today and uncover the family history the government missed!