Kelly's Directory of Bromley, Bickley, Chislehurst & Orpington 1940 (Census Substitute)

Format: Digital Download (PDF) or CD-ROM

Step back in time to the brink of the Second World War with this invaluable genealogical resource.

The 1940s were a pivotal moment in British history. As the nation rallied for the war effort, daily life in the suburbs of Kent continued, albeit changed forever. This Kelly's Directory serves as a vital Census Substitute, bridging the gap left by the missing 1941 Census and providing a snapshot of the community just as the conflict intensified.

Whether you are tracing your family tree, researching house history, or interested in local social history, this directory offers a unique window into the lives of your ancestors in Bromley, Bickley, Chislehurst, and Orpington.

Navigating the Directory

Please note that this directory is a scan of the original book, presented as high-resolution PDF images. It is not an indexed database. However, don't let that deter you! Due to the alphabetical arrangement of the residents and trades, locating your ancestors is surprisingly intuitive and easy.

• PDF Technology: If you use a modern PDF reader (such as Adobe Acrobat Reader or Edge), many will perform OCR (Optical Character Recognition) on the fly. This often allows you to use the "Find" (Ctrl+F) function to search for surnames or street names directly within the images.

What’s Inside?

This comprehensive directory is divided into several key sections to aid your research:

1. Topographical & Historical Descriptions: Detailed sketches of each town, parish, and village. Learn about the local geography, the history of the churches, and the civic amenities available to residents in 1940.
2. Private Residents Directory: An alphabetical list of private households. This is the gold mine for genealogists, listing the head of the household (usually) and their address—essential for confirming where your family lived during the early war years.
3. Commercial & Trade Directory: Find out what your ancestors did for a living! This section lists businesses and tradespeople alphabetically by trade and then by name, from bakers and builders to wheelwrights and wine merchants.
4. Street Directory: (Where available) A house-by-house listing of specific streets, helping you to identify who lived next door to your ancestors.
5. Official & Classified Information: Details of local councils, officials, clergy, doctors, and public institutions, as well as transport timetables (trains and trams) serving the area.

Historical Context & Interesting Facts (1940)

• The Blitz & The Caves: By 1940, the threat of bombing was real. The famous Chislehurst Caves, which had been a tourist attraction for centuries, were transformed into a massive underground air-raid shelter housing thousands of locals during the Blitz. If your ancestors were in Chislehurst, they may well have slept here!
• H.G. Wells: The renowned science fiction writer and native of Bromley, H.G. Wells, was still alive during this period (he passed away in 1946). While he had moved from the area by 1940, his legacy loomed large over the town, and you may find references to his family or former residences in the historical sections.
• The Orpington Chicken: Orpington was internationally famous in the farming world for the Orpington Chicken, a breed developed by William Cook in the late 19th century. By 1940, the local agricultural trade directories were still buzzing with poultry breeders and farmers maintaining this heritage.
• Wartime Industry: With London under threat, many light industries and engineering works in the Bromley and Orpington areas would have been pivoting toward the war effort—manufacturing parts for aircraft or munitions.

Why is this a Census Substitute?

The 1939 Register is the closest official census to this year, but it remains under access restrictions. The 1941 Census was never taken due to WWII. Therefore, directories from 1939-1945 are critical for genealogists to establish family residence during this "blackout" period.

Map Disclaimer & Bonus

Please be advised: Due to the age of the original source material and the removal of plates by previous owners, street maps may be missing from this scan. We have made every effort to include all available pages.

• Bonus: If the original maps are present and intact in the source book we scanned, they will be included as a high-quality bonus within this download/CD.

Product Specifications

• Source: Kelly's Directory of Bromley, Bickley, Chislehurst & Orpington 1940.
• Format: High-Quality PDF (Scanned Images).
• Compatibility: Compatible with PC, Mac, iPad, and Android tablets. Requires a PDF reader.

Start your journey into the past today! Reconnect with your Bromley and Orpington ancestors during Britain's "Finest Hour."