Kelly's Directory Of Hampshire & The Isle Of Wight 1889

Kelly's Directory of Hampshire & The Isle Of Wight (1889)

Step back into the twilight of Queen Victoria’s reign. The year is 1889. Gaslight flickers in the streets of Portsmouth, horse-drawn carts trundle through the market squares of Winchester, and the elegant seaside resorts of the Isle of Wight are in their golden age. This is not just a book; it is a key to unlock that world.

This exceptionally comprehensive edition of Kelly's Directory is an indispensable resource and a fascinating piece of social history. It offers a ground-level view of life in the late 19th century, preserving the names, trades, and lives of thousands of ordinary and extraordinary people.

Within these leather-bound (or cloth-bound) pages, you will discover:

A Complete Commercial & Trades Directory: Find every butcher, baker, blacksmith, and banker from Alton to Yarmouth. Trace the commercial arteries of the county and island.
The Court Directory (Private Residents): A listing of the gentry, clergy, professionals, and other private residents, providing a snapshot of the county's influential figures.
Street-by-Street Listings for Major Towns: Invaluable for house historians, detailing the head of household for every address in key urban centres like Portsmouth, Southampton, Winchester, and Ryde.
Parish & Village Information: Detailed descriptions of every parish, including population statistics, information on the local church and school, and principal landowners.
Detailed Maps & Plans: Navigate the towns and countryside as they were, with contemporary maps that reveal a landscape before the age of the motor car.
Authentic Victorian Advertisements: Delight in the charming and often verbose ads for local businesses, patent medicines, and hotels, offering a unique insight into the consumer culture of the day.
Who is this for?

The Family Historian: Breathe life into names on a census by discovering your ancestors' occupations, addresses, and business partners.
The Local Historian: Build a detailed picture of your town or village's social and economic structure in 1889.
The Homeowner: Uncover the history of your Victorian or Edwardian property and its past inhabitants.
The Writer & Researcher: Add unparalleled authenticity to historical novels, articles, or academic work with precise, contemporary details.
This is more than a directory; it is a tangible link to the past. A fingerprint of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight at a pivotal moment in history