Kelly's Directory Of Cornwall 1914

Kelly's Directory of Cornwall 1914 – Digital Download or CD-ROM

Unlock the Doors to Pre-WWI Cornwall

Step back into the rugged, maritime heart of Cornwall in 1914. Just months before the outbreak of the Great War, Kelly’s Directory captured the lifeblood of this unique county in extraordinary detail. Whether you are tracing your Cornish ancestry, studying local history, or restoring a period property, this indispensable guide is your key to unlocking the past. Available as an instant digital download or on a convenient CD-ROM, this high-quality reproduction consists of fully scanned images of the original book.

The Perfect Census Substitute Many genealogists hit a "brick wall" with the 1911 census or face the frustrating gaps leading up to the 1921 census. Interestingly, much like the privacy concerns and government distrust we see today, many Edwardian citizens deeply resented the intrusive nature of census questions and flat-out refused to fill in the forms. If your ancestors dodged the census enumerator out of suspicion of the state, there is a very high chance they are listed right here in plain sight within the pages of Kelly’s.

Cornwall in 1914: A Snapshot in Time In 1914, Cornwall was a county in transition. The deep-hard rock tin and copper mining industry—which had dominated the globe for centuries—was in its final, melancholic decline, though china clay extraction in the St Austell area was booming. Fishing remained the lifeblood of coastal villages like Newlyn and Mousehole, with the Cornish pilchard fleet still a formidable force.

It was also a time of immense cultural pride. Cornwall was famous for its fierce rugby teams (the Cornwall county team had famously won the County Championship just years prior in 1908), and the sound of brass bands echoed through the mining towns, a tradition kept alive by groups like the legendary Camborne Town Band.

You may even find the footprints of famous Cornish figures who called the county home around this time:

• Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch ("Q"): The famous literary critic and author, residing in his beloved Fowey.
• A.L. Rowse: The future historian and poet, who would have been a young boy growing up in Tregonissey near St Austell.
• D.H. Lawrence & Frieda: Though they arrived slightly later in 1916, Zennor and the surrounding bohemian artistic communities were already taking shape.

What’s Inside the Directory? Kelly’s Directories are meticulously organized, making navigation surprisingly simple despite being scanned images. The book is broken down into highly usable sections:

• County Information: A fascinating primer on Cornwall’s geology, magistrates, county council members, and agriculture.
• Town & Village Histories: Detailed descriptions of local topography, landmarks, and institutions.
• Street & Commercial Directories: Lists every tradesman, shopkeeper, and business in alphabetical order by town (from blacksmiths to bakers).
• Private Residents: An alphabetical list of the gentry, aristocracy, and prominent citizens—perfect for finding where your wealthier ancestors lived.
• Professional & Trades Directory: A county-wide alphabetical list of professions, allowing you to find every specific occupation (e.g., every fisherman or tin miner) across Cornwall at a glance.

Modern Tech Meets Edwardian History Because this directory is entirely alphabetical, finding your ancestors is incredibly easy, even without a searchable text index. However, modern technology takes it a step further! If you view this PDF on a desktop PC, modern PDF readers (like Google Chrome Adobe Acrobat or Edge) utilize built-in tools like Google Lens. This means you can use on-the-fly OCR to instantly highlight and copy text, utilize real-time translation to read the text in other languages, or even use Text-to-Speech features to have the directory read aloud to you. (Please note: Due to software limitations, these advanced OCR and Text-to-Speech features are generally only available when viewing on desktop PCs, not mobile devices).

Important Map Disclaimer Please Note: Due to the age of these original volumes and the way they were previously handled, bound, or disbound before scanning, some original fold-out maps may have been missing, torn, or removed from the source copy. If a map is present in your edition, please consider it a fantastic bonus!

Format Options

• Digital Download: Instant access. Receive your download link immediately upon payment. No waiting, no shipping costs.
• CD-ROM: Perfect for those who want a physical backup or prefer to load their data directly from a disc. Shipped directly to your door.

Don't let government distrust or missing census records hide your Cornish heritage. Add Kelly's Directory of Cornwall 1914 to your cart today and step into the lives of your ancestors!