Kelly's Directory Of Hampshire & The Isle Of Wight 1935

Kelly's Directory of Hampshire & The Isle of Wight 1935 - Census Substitute (Digital Download or CD)

Product Description:

Step back into the mid-1930s with this high-quality reproduction of Kelly's Directory of Hampshire & The Isle of Wight 1935. An essential resource for genealogists, local historians, and anyone researching family history in this region, this directory serves as a vital "Census Substitute."

Following the destruction of the 1931 Census during WWII and with the 1941 Census cancelled due to the war, this 1935 directory is one of the few comprehensive records available pinpointing exactly where your ancestors were living and what they did for a living during the inter-war years.

Format & Navigation: This directory is available as a Digital Download or on CD. It consists of scanned images of the original pages, preserving the authentic look and feel of the 1930s text. While the text is not embedded or searchable in the traditional sense (you cannot simply Ctrl+F a name), the directory is organized alphabetically by parish and town, making navigation intuitive and straightforward.

Please Note: Most modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat or Edge) now feature "OCR on the fly." This means you can often use the search function in your browser or reader to find names, allowing for a research experience that combines the authenticity of original scans with modern convenience.

What’s Inside? This comprehensive volume is packed with details that bring your ancestors' world to life:

1. Court Directory (Hampshire & Isle of Wight): An alphabetical listing of private residents, featuring the gentry, clergy, and prominent business leaders living in the county at the time.
2. Town & Commercial Directories: Detailed street-by-street and trade-by-trade listings for major towns including Winchester, Southampton, Portsmouth, Bournemouth, and Newport. Discover the family butcher, baker, and the specific street your grandmother called home.
3. Trades Directory: A classified section covering the whole county. Perfect for understanding the local economy and finding ancestors by their profession.
4. Official Information: Includes lists of local Magistrates, County Council officials, and Poor Law Guardians.

Historical Context & Famous Residents (1935): The year 1935 was a time of flux, with the memory of the Great War fading and the shadow of WWII yet to fall.

• Literary Giants: The streets of Portsmouth still echoed with the legacy of Charles Dickens, who was born there, while Winchester housed the final resting place of Jane Austen at Winchester Cathedral.
• Aviation Pioneers: Southampton was a hub of innovation. This was the era of the Supermarine Spitfire development; R.J. Mitchell, the aircraft's designer, was a prominent figure in the region, working at the Woolston works just as this directory was being printed.
• Military Presence: With Aldershot and Portsmouth (the home of the Royal Navy) in the county, the directory is filled with military personnel, naval officers, and families supporting the armed forces.

Local Industries & Facts:

• The "Spitfire" City: Southampton was a major industrial port, crucial for shipbuilding and aviation. The directory captures the workforce supporting these industries on the eve of the war.
• Isle of Wight Tourism: Even in 1935, the Isle of Wight was a premier holiday destination. The directory lists the numerous hotels, guest houses, and excursion agents catering to the tourist trade in places like Ryde, Ventnor, and Sandown.
• Sporting Legacy: Hampshire County Cricket Club was already a storied institution, and you may find mentions of players or groundsmen within the local listings.
• Agriculture: Outside the major towns, the directory highlights the agricultural heartland of Hampshire, listing farmers, hop growers, and market gardeners who fed the south.

Map Disclaimer: Please be aware that the original map sections were sometimes removed or damaged in these vintage directories before they were scanned. While we make every effort to include them if they are present in the source material, we cannot guarantee the inclusion of the original fold-out maps. If the maps are present in your copy, please consider them a bonus addition to this fascinating historical record.

Bridging the Census Gaps: With the 1931 Census lost to fire and the 1939 Register not yet released for public view (and recording different data), this 1935 directory is an indispensable tool for tracing family movements between the 1921 and 1951 censuses.

Unlock the history of your Hampshire and Isle of Wight ancestors today!