Hunt & Co's Directory Of Gloucester Hereford & Worcester 1847

Hunt & Co's Directory of Gloucester, Hereford & Worcester 1847 - Digital Download & CD Edition

Product Description:

Step back into the heart of the Victorian era with this fascinating republication of Hunt & Co's Directory of Gloucester, Hereford & Worcester 1847. This essential genealogical resource offers a unique snapshot of life in the West Midlands just prior to the heavy industrialization of the later 19th century.

Whether you are tracing your family tree, researching local history, or interested in the socio-economic landscape of 1847, this directory is an invaluable tool. It is available as a convenient Digital Download or a physical CD, perfect for archiving or gifting.

Navigating the 1847 Directory

Please Note: This directory consists of high-quality scanned images of the original pages. While the text is not embedded (meaning it is not electronically searchable in the traditional sense), it is incredibly easy to navigate. The directories are organized alphabetically by surname and trade, allowing you to locate your ancestors with minimal effort.

Tech Tip: Most modern PDF readers (including Adobe Acrobat and browser-based viewers) now feature "OCR on the fly." This means you can often use the Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F) search function within your viewer to highlight names, making this digitized version even more powerful than older scans.

Bridging the Census Gaps

For genealogists, this directory serves as a vital "bridge" between the 1841 and 1851 Census records. The 1841 Census is notorious for lacking detailed relationships and precise birthplaces, while the 1851 Census is still five years away. This directory helps you confirm:

• If a family was still residing in a specific street between census counts.
• The specific occupation or trade of an ancestor (crucial for distinguishing between people with the same name).
• If a head of household changed between 1841 and 1851, potentially indicating a death or remarriage that you might otherwise have missed.

Contents of the Directory

This comprehensive volume covers the three distinct counties with detailed sections including:

• Gloucester: A dedicated street directory, court directory (private residents), and a classified commercial directory. Includes listings for the influential docks area and the cathedral close.
• Hereford: Detailed listings of the gentry, clergy, and tradespeople, alongside a robust classified trades section covering the agricultural heartland.
• Worcester: Extensive coverage of the city, including separate directories for the numerous artisans involved in the glove and porcelain industries.
• Villages & Hamlets: Unlike many city-centric directories, this volume includes smaller surrounding villages, offering a rare glimpse into rural life in the Midlands.

Local History, Famous Residents & Industry

The year 1847 was a time of transition. As you browse these pages, you are walking the same streets as notable figures of the era.

• The Sauce Titans: In Worcester, you will find the premises of John W. Lea and William H. Perrins. By 1847, their famous Worcestershire Sauce was gaining national fame. Their listings appear here as chemists and manufacturers, marking the early days of a global brand.
• The Porcelain Industry: Worcester was a hub for fine china. The directory details the skilled painters, throwers, and decorators working for the Royal Worcester porcelain works, a key industry for the city.
• The Glove Trade: Worcester was the glove-making capital of the world. Look for the hundreds of "Glove Manufacturers" and "Leather Dressers" that populated the city streets.
• Clergy & Gentry: In Gloucester and Hereford, the directories list the Bishop and Clergy residing at the Cathedrals. In 1847, Henry Phillpotts (though primarily Bishop of Exeter, he had strong ties to the region) and local dignitaries associated with the Three Choirs Festival were prominent figures in the social hierarchy.
• Music & Culture: The Three Choirs Festival rotated between these three cities. The directory lists the local musicians and instrument makers who supported this world-famous musical tradition.
• Railway Boom: 1847 is right in the middle of "Railway Mania." You will notice agents for the various railway companies appearing in the classified sections, signaling the end of the stagecoach era and the dawn of modern transport.

Important Disclaimer regarding Maps

Please be aware that original directories of this age sometimes had maps removed or damaged over the last 170+ years. We have made every effort to include all pages from the source copy used. While we cannot guarantee a map is present, if the original map was intact in our source copy, it is included here as a fascinating bonus feature.

System Requirements:

• Compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux.
• Requires a PDF reader (Adobe Reader or similar).
• CD-ROM drive required for the physical CD version.

Unlock the secrets of your West Midlands ancestry today with this piece of history!