Kelly's Directory of Southampton 1970 (Digital Download or CD)

Step back into the era of the Beatles, mini-skirts, and the dawn of the jumbo jet with this fascinating digital reproduction of Kelly's Directory of Southampton 1970.

Perfect for genealogists, local historians, or anyone tracing their family tree in Hampshire, this directory offers a complete snapshot of life in Southampton at the end of the swinging sixties. Whether your ancestors were shopkeepers on the high street, dockworkers in the bustling port, or families residing in the suburbs, this book provides the names and addresses that bring your family history to life.

Format & Navigation

This directory is a high-quality scan of the original book, available as an instant Digital Download or on a CD. Please note that as these are scanned images, the text is not inherently searchable within the file itself. However, the directory has been compiled in a strict alphabetical order, making manual navigation of the Commercial and Private Resident sections intuitive and fast.

Pro Tip: Modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat) often perform OCR (Optical Character Recognition) on the fly, allowing you to use the "Find" function to locate surnames or street names with varying degrees of success depending on the clarity of the original print.

Bridging the Census Gap

For family historians, the decade between the 1961 and 1971 censuses is often a "black hole." Census records remain sealed for 100 years, meaning the 1971 Census will not be publicly available until 2072. This directory serves as an invaluable substitute, helping you pin down exactly where your ancestors were living and what they were doing for a living during this transitional period.

What's Inside?

This comprehensive volume is divided into essential sections to aid your research:

• Street Directory: An alphabetical list of streets in Southampton and the surrounding districts, showing the head of household or business occupying each property. Ideal for tracing the history of a specific house.
• Commercial Directory: A classified list of trades and professions. Find out who ran the local bakeries, garages, and textile factories.
• Private Residents Directory: An alphabetical list of private citizens, usually excluding the working classes but covering the middle class, gentry, and prominent tradespeople.
• Official & Municipal Information: Details of the City Council, officials, magistrates, public institutions, hospitals, and churches. This section offers a glimpse into the civic infrastructure of the time.
• Court Directory: Listings of the "gentry" and upper-class residents, a standard feature of Kelly's directories of this era.

Southampton in 1970: Local Context & History

Understanding the era is key to understanding your ancestors' lives. In 1970, Southampton was a hive of industry and maritime activity.

• The "Golden" Era of the Docks: While the age of the transatlantic liner was shifting due to the popularity of air travel, Southampton remained the UK’s premier cruise port. The famous SS Canberra was a regular sight, and the city was gearing up for the containerization revolution which would soon transform the docks.
• Industry & Employment: The Ford Transit Factory at Swaythling was a massive employer in the region, having moved production there in the 60s. Many residents in the 1970 directory would have listed their trade in connection with the booming automotive and aerospace sectors (Vickers/Supermarine).
• Sporting Heroes: 1970 was a great time for Southampton Football Club ("The Saints"). They had a strong First Division team. Keep an eye out for Terry Paine, the legendary winger who was still playing for the club in 1970, or a young Mick Channon, who was rising to stardom at the time.
• Famous Connections: While R.J. Mitchell (designer of the Spitfire) had passed, his legacy loomed large over the city. Comedian Benny Hill, born in Southampton, was at the height of his UK TV fame in 1970; you may even find distant relatives of his who still resided in the area.

Map Disclaimer

Please be advised that while we strive to provide complete reproductions, many original directories of this age were issued without fold-out maps, or the maps have been lost or damaged over the last 50+ years prior to scanning. Consequently, we cannot guarantee the inclusion of a map. If a map is present in your copy, please treat it as a bonus feature.

Unlock the secrets of your Southampton heritage today!