Kelly's Directory of Southampton 1960 - Digital Download or CD

Bridging the Gap Between the Censuses: Unlock Your Family History in 1960

Are you struggling to trace your ancestors between the 1939 Register and the 1971 census? With the 1931 Census lost to fire and the 1951 Census still under the 100-year rule, the Kelly's Directory of Southampton 1960 serves as a vital genealogical lifeline. This directory offers a complete snapshot of life in Southampton at the dawn of the swinging sixties, providing the names and addresses of residents when official records are sealed.

This high-quality reproduction is available as an instant digital download or on a physical CD. Please note that this is a scan of the original book, comprising images of the pages. While the book itself is not text-searchable, the alphabetical nature of the listings makes navigation incredibly straightforward. Furthermore, most modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat) offer "OCR on the fly," allowing you to search the text once the file is open on your computer.

What’s Inside the Directory?

This directory is meticulously organized to help you find exactly what you are looking for. It includes:

• Street Directory: An invaluable resource for house historians. If you know where your ancestors lived but not their names, or vice versa, this section lists every householder street-by-street, from the bustling city centre to the suburbs.
• Commercial & Trades Directory: A fascinating look at the local economy. Find out if your great-grandfather was a grocer on Portswood Road, a dockworker in Woolston, or a tailor in Shirley. Businesses are listed both alphabetically and by trade.
• Private Residents Directory: The "Who's Who" of Southampton in 1960. An alphabetical list of private residents, their addresses, and often their occupations—perfect for tracing the professional class and prominent citizens.
• Official & Municipal Information: Details of the City Council, officials, magistrates, clergy, and public institutions, providing context on how the city was governed.
• Courts © Information: A comprehensive guide to the local legal machinery, including courts of justice and guild regulations active in 1960.

Southampton in 1960: The City & The People

Using this directory places your ancestors right in the heart of a city transforming from post-war austerity to modern prosperity.

• The Census Gap: In 1960, Southampton was a hub of activity that official censuses miss. The city was expanding rapidly with new housing estates, and the docks were buzzing with international trade.
• Famous Residents:
  • John Denver: The legendary folk singer lived in Southampton as a teenager in the late 1950s and early 1960s while his father was stationed at the USAF base. You may find the Deutschendorf family listed in the private residents section during this era.
  • Benny Hill: Born and raised in Southampton, the famous comedian was a rising star in 1960. He still maintained close ties to the area and family members in the city during this time.
• Industry & The Spitfire City: 1960 was still dominated by the legacy of aviation. The Vickers-Supermarine factory was a major employer, having transitioned from producing the Spitfire in WWII to building cutting-edge aircraft like the Scimitar and Vickers VC10. Many residents listed in the trades directory would have been engineers or draughtsmen connected to this industry.
• Sport: Southampton F.C. (The Saints) were playing in the Second Division in 1960. The directory allows you to locate the homes of players from that era, such as the legendary forward Derek Reeves or the late Terry Paine, who was just beginning his career.

Important Disclaimer Regarding Maps

Please Note: Kelly’s Directories did not always include maps in every annual edition. Sometimes, maps were removed or lost before scanning. We have made every effort to preserve the original book. If the original directory contained a map, it is included in this scan as a bonus. However, we cannot guarantee a map is present as it depends entirely on the specific copy of the 1960 edition we digitized.

Why Buy This Directory?

• Perfect for filling the "Census Black Hole" of the mid-20th century.
• Essential for tracing house histories and property ownership.
• Ideal for local historians researching the transition of Southampton from a wartime port to a modern commercial city.
• Alphabetical listings make finding people easy, even without internal search functions.