Hall's Directory Of Gravesend Milton & Northfleet 1864

Hall's Directory Of Gravesend, Milton & Northfleet 1864 - Genealogy & Local History Resource (Digital Download/CD)

Product Description:

Step back into the mid-Victorian era with this high-quality reproduction of Hall's Directory Of Gravesend, Milton & Northfleet 1864. An essential addition to any Kentish family historian’s library, this directory offers a fascinating snapshot of life in these thriving Thames-side towns during the height of the 19th century.

Whether you are tracing your family tree, researching the history of your house, or interested in the local social and industrial landscape, this directory provides the details you need that are often missed by standard census records.

Navigability & Format

This directory is a scan of the original 1864 publication, preserving the authenticity and charm of the Victorian layout. While the text consists of scanned images and is not natively embedded/searchable in the traditional sense, it is incredibly easy to navigate. The directory is organized alphabetically by surname and trade, allowing for quick manual browsing of residents.

• Tech Tip: Most modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat or browser-based viewers) now perform OCR (Optical Character Recognition) "on the fly," allowing you to use the search function (Ctrl+F) to find surnames and street names within the images with great accuracy.

Bridging the Census Gap

The 1860s is a decade often overlooked by genealogists. Sitting squarely between the 1861 and 1871 Census records, the year 1864 is a "gap" year where families may have moved, births may have occurred, or trades may have changed. This directory serves as the perfect substitute census, helping you pinpoint exactly where your ancestors lived and what they did for a living ten years apart.

Contents of the Directory

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

• Street Directory: A detailed listing of the principal streets in Gravesend, Milton, and Northfleet, showing the head of household at each address. Invaluable for house historians.
• Commercial Directory: An alphabetical list of traders and merchants, from bakers and boot makers to shipwrights and ironmongers.
• Private Residents Directory: An alphabetical list of the gentry, clergy, and prominent citizens living in the area.
• Trades & Professions: Classified listings that allow you to see who was working in which industry.
• Local Information: Includes details on local government officials, clergy, schools, and public transport (including the soon-to-be-expanded railway).

Historical Context & Interesting Facts (1864)

Understanding the environment your ancestors lived in brings your research to life:

• The Pocahontas Connection: Even in 1864, Gravesend was famous as the final resting place of the Native American princess Pocahontas, who died there in 1617. St. George’s Church remained a focal point of the town.
• Industry & Northfleet Cement: By 1864, Northfleet was rapidly establishing itself as the centre of the cement industry. The chalk pits and cement works (pioneered by companies like Bevan’s) were dominating the landscape and employing a vast portion of the local male population.
• The Thames Resort: Gravesend and Milton were booming as "Watering Places." With the introduction of steam paddle-steamers, Londoners flocked here for fresh air and day trips. The directory lists numerous taverns and boarding houses catering to these tourists.
• Music & Arts: The era saw a rise in brass bands and choral societies in the Kent area, often funded by the wealthy industrialists listed in these pages.

Map Note

Please Note: Due to the age of these original publications, maps were often issued as loose inserts and have frequently been lost or damaged over the last 160 years. We have included a high-resolution scan of the directory exactly as it was bound; however, we cannot guarantee a map is present in this specific edition. Bonus: If a map is present in the original source book, it has been scanned in high resolution and included as a valuable bonus to assist in identifying old street layouts and parish boundaries.

Available Formats:

• Digital Download: Instant access after purchase. No waiting for shipping.
• CD-ROM: Mailed to your address (Ideal for those who prefer a physical backup or slower internet connections).

Unlock the secrets of your Kentish ancestors today with Hall's Directory 1864!