Kelly's Directory of Buckinghamshire 1911 - Digital Download & CD-ROM

Uncover the history of your ancestors and the social landscape of pre-WWI Buckinghamshire with this fascinating digital archive.

This high-quality reproduction of the Kelly's Directory of Buckinghamshire 1911 is an essential resource for genealogists, local historians, and anyone researching the history of the county. Available as a convenient digital download or on a physical CD-ROM, this directory offers a virtual snapshot of life in the county just before the Great War.

Navigation & Usability

Please note that this directory is a scanned image facsimile of the original book. The pages are not text-searchable in the traditional sense (i.e., you cannot Ctrl+F to find a word instantly). However, due to the alphabetical arrangement of the sections, navigation is intuitive and straightforward.

Tech Tip: Most modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat Reader) now perform OCR (Optical Character Recognition) on the fly, meaning you can often run a search within your reader software to locate names or places.

What's Inside the Directory?

Kelly’s Directories are renowned for their comprehensive detail. This publication is divided into several key sections to aid your research:

1. County Information: A detailed survey of the county’s geology, magistrate’s list, and topography.
2. Court Directory (Private Residents): An alphabetical list of private residents (heads of households) and their addresses. This is invaluable for tracing the gentry and middle classes who did not run a trade.
3. Commercial Directory: A listing of tradespeople and businesses, arranged alphabetically by surname within each town.
4. Trades Classified: A "Yellow Pages" style section where you can find specific professions (e.g., Bakers, Blacksmiths) listed alphabetically by trade across the whole county.
5. Parish & Town Histories: Extensive descriptions of the major towns and villages, including local facilities, schools, and religious institutions.

Bridging the Census Gaps

While the 1911 Census provides a static snapshot of who was in a house on one specific night, directories like this help fill the gaps between census years. With the 1921 Census being the next major record (and the 1931 Census lost to fire), this 1911 directory serves as a crucial anchor point to track family and business movements in the Edwardian era.

Buckinghamshire in 1911: Famous Residents & Local Facts

This directory captures Buckinghamshire during the height of the Edwardian era, a time of distinct contrast between rural life and growing industry.

• Famous Residents: The directory lists the residences of the Rothschild family, who had a massive influence on the county (notably at Mentmore and Aston Clinton). You will also find references to the estates associated with Benjamin Disraeli (Hughenden Manor) and literary figures connected to the area.
• Industry: While largely agricultural, 1911 Bucks was famous for the Lace industry (particularly in Olney) and, most notably, Furniture manufacturing. High Wycombe was the center of the British furniture trade, earning it the nickname "Chair of England," and the directory lists numerous chair manufacturers, turners, and polishers in the area.
• Sport: The directory includes contacts for local Cricket and Football clubs. Wycombe Wanderers, founded in 1887, was active during this period, establishing itself as a key part of the local community.
• The Royal Connection: The Royal residence of Windsor Castle sits on the boundary of the county, and the directory contains details of the royal household and officials associated with the Crown.

Important Disclaimer Regarding Maps

Please be aware that due to the age of the original source material and the binding process of the time, some fold-out maps or plates may have been damaged or missing from the original book used for scanning. We have made every effort to preserve all available content, but please purchase with the understanding that certain maps may be absent or incomplete.

Specifications:

• Format: PDF (Digital Download) or CD-ROM.
• Compatibility: Readable on any PC, Mac, or tablet using Adobe Acrobat or similar PDF reader.

Order your copy today and step back into the streets of Edwardian Buckinghamshire!