The Post Office Directory Of Cambridgeshire 1879

The Post Office Directory of Cambridgeshire 1879 - Digital Download & CD Edition

Product Description:

Step back into the Victorian era with this comprehensive facsimile of The Post Office Directory of Cambridgeshire 1879. Perfect for genealogists, local historians, and house researchers, this directory offers a fascinating snapshot of life in Cambridgeshire just as the county was transitioning into the modern industrial age.

Bridging the Census Gap This directory is an invaluable resource for filling the "ten-year gap" between the 1871 and 1881 censuses. If you have lost track of an ancestor between these years, this directory allows you to pinpoint their exact location, trade, and social standing in 1879.

Navigating the Directory Please note that this product is a high-quality scan of the original book, presented as a collection of PDF images. It is not a text-searchable database. However, finding your relatives is surprisingly simple due to the original alphabetical structure of the entries. Furthermore, most modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat) perform OCR (Optical Character Recognition) on the fly, allowing you to use the "Find" function to search for surnames or street names, though accuracy may vary slightly compared to the original text.

What’s Inside? This extensive volume covers the entirety of Cambridgeshire and is divided into detailed sections:

• Court Directory (The Gentry & Clergy): A listing of the private residents, nobility, and clergy of the county, offering a glimpse into the upper echelons of Victorian society.
• Town & Street Directories: Detailed listings for major hubs including Cambridge, Ely, Wisbech, Chatteris, March, Whittlesey, and Littleport.
  • Cambridge Section: Includes a private residents directory (alphabetical), a trades directory, and a classified street directory—essential for locating specific houses in the city.
  • Village Listings: Every major village in the county is listed with its local residents, tradesmen, and farmers.
• Trades Directory: A comprehensive alphabetical listing of professions and businesses, from Blacksmiths to Wheelwrights.
• Official Information: Listings for county officials, magistrates, and public institutions.

Famous Residents & Historical Context of 1879

• James Clerk Maxwell: In 1879, the world-famous physicist and creator of the first colour photograph was residing in Cambridge as the first Cavendish Professor of Physics. Tragically, 1879 was also the year of his death in November.
• Charles Darwin: While primarily living in Kent, Darwin maintained strong ties with the Cambridge scientific community in 1879, receiving an honorary doctorate from the university that year.
• The Boat Race Victory: A point of pride for the county in 1879 was the victory of the Cambridge University Boat Club in the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race, securing a win on the River Thames.

Local Industry & Facts

• Agriculture & Horticulture: In 1879, Cambridgeshire was the heart of the "Corn Belt," but the directory also highlights the booming market gardening industry, particularly around the Fens and Wisbech, famous for its flowers and produce sent by rail to London.
• Printing & Education: The directory reflects the dominance of the Cambridge University Press and the printing trade, which was a major employer in the city alongside the colleges.
• Transport: The listings reveal a county well-connected by the rail network, with stations acting as vital lifelines for the farming communities to transport goods to the capital.

Important Disclaimer regarding Maps Please be aware that, in the original publication of this directory, maps were often provided as separate inserts or fold-outs. Due to the age and usage of the source material used for scanning, some maps may be missing, torn, or incomplete. Every effort has been made to preserve the content available, but we cannot guarantee the presence of the original cartography.

Formats Available

• Digital Download: High-quality PDF files, delivered instantly to your email. Ideal for immediate research.
• CD-ROM: A physical disc sent via post. Perfect for those who prefer a physical backup or wish to gift the item.

Uncover the history of your family and your county today with this detailed historical record.