Kelly's Directory Of Leicester 1947

Kelly’s Directory of Leicester 1947 - Digital Download or CD

Unlock the History of Leicester in Post-War Britain

Step back into the pivotal year of 1947 with a high-quality reproduction of Kelly’s Directory of Leicester. This essential genealogical resource offers a fascinating snapshot of life in Leicester during the early years of post-war reconstruction. Whether you are tracing your family tree, researching local history, or exploring the industrial heritage of the Midlands, this directory is an indispensable tool.

Important Note on Format & Navigation Please be aware that this directory is a scanned facsimile of the original book. The pages are provided as high-resolution images and are not text-searchable in the traditional sense. However, the directory is meticulously arranged alphabetically by surname and trade, making navigation intuitive and straightforward. Tip: Most modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat) now perform OCR (Optical Character Recognition) on the fly, allowing you to use the "Find" function to locate keywords effectively.

Why the 1947 Directory is Vital for Genealogists For family historians, the 1947 directory serves as a critical "census substitute." Due to the loss of the 1931 Census during WWII and the cancellation of the 1941 Census due to the war effort, there is a significant 30-year gap between the 1921 and 1951 censuses. Kelly’s Directory bridges this gap, providing you with names, addresses, and occupations exactly two years after the end of the war.

What’s Inside: Section by Section This comprehensive volume is divided into user-friendly sections to aid your research:

• Street Directory: A complete listing of the streets of Leicester, showing the head of household or business occupying each property. Perfect for mapping out the neighborhood your ancestors lived in.
• Commercial & Trades Directory: An alphabetical list of trades and professions. Find out if your ancestors were hosiery manufacturers, boot and shoe operatives, or engineers—trades for which Leicester was world-famous.
• Private Residents Directory: An alphabetical list of private citizens, often detailing their professions and addresses. This is the gold standard for tracing the middle and upper-class residents of the time.
• Official & Municipal Information: Details of the City Council, officials, magistrates, and public institutions, offering context into the civic governance of the era.
• Courtry Districts: Information on the surrounding villages and towns that fell within Leicester's orbit.

A Glimpse into Leicester in 1947

• Industrial Powerhouse: In 1947, Leicester was still known as the "workshop of the world." The directory reflects a city dominated by engineering, shoemaking (names like Freeman, Hardy & Willis), and hosiery. It captures the city as it pivots from wartime production to peacetime manufacturing.
• Famous Connections: This era records the residences of notable local figures or their families. Keep an eye out for the Attenborough family; Frederick Attenborough (father of David and Richard) was the Principal of University College, Leicester, and may be listed within the academic or resident sections.
• Cultural & Sporting Life: 1947 was a time of rebuilding community spirit. The directory lists the premises of local sports clubs and social venues. Leicester City FC and the Leicester Tigers (rugby) were central to local life, and you may find committee members or grounds listed in the official sections.
• Joe Orton's City: The famous playwright Joe Orton was a 14-year-old schoolboy living in Leicester in 1947. While he may not be listed as a head of household yet, the directory paints the vivid backdrop of the working-class streets that would later inspire his work.
• The Music Scene: The post-war era saw a boom in dance halls and jazz. The directory lists local theatres and agents, setting the stage for the musical explosion that would follow in the 50s and 60s.

Map Disclaimer & Bonus Please Note: The original source books used for scanning are over 75 years old. Occasionally, the fold-out maps were removed or damaged in the original copies before they came to us. Therefore, we cannot guarantee the presence of the original map in every digital edition. However, if the map is present and scannable in our source copy, it will be included as a bonus supplement to the directory.

Available Formats

• Digital Download: Instant access via email link. Compatible with PC, Mac, and Tablets.
• CD-ROM: A physical disc sent via post, perfect for archiving or those with limited internet bandwidth.