Buchanan & Co.'s Directory Of Leicester & Market Towns 1867 (Digital Download & CD)

Product Description

Step back into the heart of Victorian England with this high-quality reproduction of Buchanan & Co.'s Directory Of Leicester & Market Towns 1867. An essential resource for genealogists and local historians, this directory offers a fascinating snapshot of life in Leicester and the surrounding county during the height of the Industrial Revolution.

Whether you are tracing your family tree or researching the history of your house, this directory provides the names and occupations of residents, tradesmen, and officials that help bridge the gap between the 1861 and 1871 census records.

Navigating the Directory: Important Technical Notes

• Format: This product is available as a Digital Download or on a CD.
• Scanned Images: The directory consists of high-resolution scanned images of the original pages. It is not text-searchable in the traditional sense (you cannot Ctrl+F to find a name).
• Easy Navigation: Don't worry! The original publishers organized the directory alphabetically by surname and trade, making manual lookup straightforward and intuitive.
• Modern Compatibility: While the file itself is an image scan, many modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat) offer "OCR on the fly." This means your computer may be able to recognize the text in the background, allowing you to search the content depending on your software version.

What's Inside? A Breakdown of Sections

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

1. Leicester Street Directory: A thorough listing of streets and the primary residents/head of households for each address.
2. Commercial & Trade Directory: An alphabetical list of trades and businesses (from Bakers to Wooi Weavers), perfect for understanding the local economy.
3. Private Residents Directory: An alphabetical list of the gentry, clergy, and private citizens living in the town.
4. Court Directory: Listings of local officials, magistrates, and public servants.
5. Market Towns & Villages: Dedicated sections for surrounding towns including Loughborough, Melton Mowbray, Market Harborough, Hinckley, Coalville, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, and many more.

Why This Directory is Vital for Your Research

Bridging the "Census Gap" Census records in the UK are taken every 10 years. If you have hit a wall between the 1861 and 1871 Censuses, this directory is the perfect tool to fill the void. It can help you:

• Confirm an ancestor's residence in 1867.
• Identify a change in occupation or business status.
• Track the movement of a family between different streets or towns.

Historical Snapshot: Leicester & Leicestershire in 1867

The Industrial Powerhouse In 1867, Leicester was booming. Known as the centre of the hosiery and footwear industries, the town was a hive of activity. You will find hundreds of entries for framework knitters, shoe manufacturers, and engineers. This was the era when Leicester was earning its reputation for industrial innovation.

Famous Residents & Connections While browsing, keep an eye out for notable figures of the era who were active or residing in the area:

• Thomas Cook: The pioneer of tourism, who lived in Leicester. By 1867, his idea of "excursions" had taken off, and his presence in the town directories highlights Leicester's role in travel history.
• The Liberty Family: Arthur Lasenby Liberty, who would later found the famous Liberty & Co. in London, was born in Leicester in 1843. By 1867, the young Liberty (age 24) may be listed, perhaps working in his father's drapery business before his move to London.

Local Culture & Facts

• Music & Arts: Leicester had a thriving musical culture in 1867. The Leicester Philosophical and Literary Society was active, and the town was known for its choral societies and theatres.
• Sport: While Leicestershire County Cricket Club was officially founded a decade prior, 1867 was a peak year for local club matches, and many cricket ground keepers and sports outfitters are listed within the trade pages.
• Melton Mowbray: The directory covers this famous town, renowned even then for its Pork Pies and Stilton Cheese. You will find the names of the original pork pie butchers who established the town's culinary legacy.

Map Disclaimer & Bonus

Please Note: Due to the age and binding of the original books, fold-out maps are often damaged or missing in archival copies. We have made every effort to include all pages present in the original source.

• Special Bonus: If the original map for this edition was present and intact in the source copy used for scanning, it will be included in this download/CD. If it is there, it serves as a rare and valuable visual guide to the Victorian street layout!

Unlock the secrets of your Leicestershire ancestors today with this authentic piece of history.