Besley's West Of England Pocket Book 1853

A Time Capsule of Victorian England Besley's West of England Pocket Book for 1853

Step back into the vibrant heart of the mid-Victorian era with this exceptionally rare and fascinating artifact: Besley's West of England Pocket Book for the year 1853. More than a simple almanac, this compact leather-bound volume was the indispensable companion for the gentleman, merchant, and traveller of the day, offering a complete snapshot of life, commerce, and infrastructure in the West of England at a pivotal moment in history.

Published in Bristol by the renowned local printers Besley & Co., this pocket book is a treasure trove of primary source material. Within its age-toned pages, you will discover:

Comprehensive Directories: Listings of local nobility, gentry, clergy, bankers, lawyers, physicians, and merchants for key cities and towns including Bristol, Bath, Exeter, Gloucester, and Taunton.
Transportation Networks: Detailed railway timetables for the rapidly expanding Great Western Railway and other lines, alongside stagecoach schedules and fares, capturing the transition from horse-drawn to steam power.
Postal Information: Essential postal rates, mail-coach departure times, and the locations of receiving houses—a vital resource in an age before the telegraph was commonplace.
A Victorian Calendar: Full calendar for 1853, complete with phases of the moon, tide times, saint's days, and fairs.
A Glimpse into Commerce: Pages filled with contemporary advertisements for local businesses, from drapers and ironmongers to hotels and purveyors of patent medicines, each ad a miniature work of art and a window into the Victorian marketplace