Barrett's Directory of Burnley and District 1937 - The Essential Census Substitute (Digital Download or CD)

Unlock the history of your family and your town with this invaluable digital archive.

Are you tracing your ancestors in Lancashire but hit a brick wall? The 1931 Census was destroyed by fire during WWII, and the 1941 Census was never taken due to the war. This makes Barrett's Directory of 1937 an absolutely critical "Census Substitute," providing a vital snapshot of the population of Burnley and its surrounding districts exactly midway between the 1921 and 1951 censuses.

High-Quality Scans & Ease of Use

This directory is reproduced as high-quality scanned images in PDF format. Please note that because these are facsimiles of the original book, the text is not embedded or searchable in the traditional sense. However, don't let that deter you! The directory is arranged alphabetically by surname and by street, making navigation incredibly intuitive.

Furthermore, modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat) often perform OCR (Optical Character Recognition) on the fly, allowing you to use the "Find" function (Ctrl+F) to locate keywords, though this depends on the clarity of your reader's engine. The alphabetical structure ensures you can flip to your ancestor's name or street with ease, just like having the book on your desk.

What’s Inside the Directory?

Barrett's Directories were renowned for their comprehensiveness. This edition is packed with detailed information divided into distinct sections:

• Street Directory: A comprehensive list of streets in Burnley and the heads of households residing there. Perfect for mapping out who lived next door to your ancestors.
• Commercial & Trades Directory: An alphabetical list of businesses and tradesmen. Find out if your great-grandfather was a weaver, a coal miner, or a shop owner, and see exactly where their business was located.
• Private Residents Directory: The "Who's Who" of Burnley in 1937. An alphabetical list of private residents, their addresses, and often their occupations.
• Official & Municipal Information: Details of the Borough Council, officials, magistrates, and local government structure.
• Ecclesiastical & Educational: Listings of churches, clergy, schools, and schoolmasters, offering clues into family religious affiliations and children's education.
• Surrounding Districts: Includes coverage of neighboring villages such as Padiham, Nelson, Colne, and Brierfield.

Burnley in 1937: A Town in Transition

This directory captures Burnley at a fascinating turning point. Once the cotton weaving capital of the world, the town was navigating the economic challenges of the inter-war years.

• Industry: While the textile mills were still the heart of the town, you will find a diverse array of engineering firms, coal mining operations, and retail businesses emerging.
• Sport: 1937 was a great year for local sports fans. Burnley Football Club (The Clarets) were competing in the Football League First Division. You may find mentions of the club's officials or perhaps players who resided locally in the residential sections.
• Notable Figures: While the directory lists thousands of everyday residents, it also chronicles the movers and shakers of the time. Look out for names like Alderman William Halstead, a prominent local figure of the era, or the mill owners who held the economic reins of the town.
• Famous Connections: Burnley is the birthplace of Sir Ian McKellen (born 1939), whose parents may be listed here in the years leading up to his birth. You will also find families connected to the legacy of James Hargreaves (inventor of the Spinning Jenny, from nearby Oswaldtwistle), whose industrial revolution impact still defined the region's workforce.

A Note on Maps

Disclaimer: We have reproduced this directory from the original source with the utmost care. However, in many original archival copies, the fold-out maps were removed, damaged, or lost over the last 80+ years. We cannot guarantee that a map is present in this specific reproduction. If a map is included in your copy, please consider it a bonus!

Formats Available

• Digital Download: Get instant access after purchase. No waiting for shipping.
• CD-ROM: A physical backup sent to your door, perfect for those who prefer a tangible archive.

Don't let the missing census records stop your research. Order Barrett's Directory of Burnley and District 1937 today and step back into the streets your ancestors walked!