Kelly's Directory Of Leicestershire & Rutland 1912

Kelly's Directory of Leicestershire & Rutland 1912 (Available as a Digital Download or CD-ROM)

Product Description:

Unlock the history of your family and your local area with this fascinating republished copy of Kelly's Directory of Leicestershire & Rutland 1912. Whether you are a genealogist, local historian, or simply curious about the past, this directory provides an invaluable snapshot of life in the East Midlands just before the First World War.

About This Directory This directory is a faithful reproduction of the original 1912 publication, presented as scanned images to preserve the look and feel of the historic text.

• Formats: This product is available as a Digital Download (for immediate access) or on a CD-ROM (sent via post).
• Navigability: Although this is a scanned book and not natively text-searchable, the directory is organized alphabetically by town and village, making it incredibly easy to navigate to the section you need.
• Search Tip: Many modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat) now perform OCR (Optical Character Recognition) on the fly. Depending on your software, you may be able to search the text for specific surnames or street names.

Bridge the Census Gap The 1911 census was a landmark, but the 1921 census release is years away. This 1912 directory is the perfect tool to bridge that gap. Discover where your ancestors were living, their occupations, and their social standing in the year the Titanic sank, filling in the blanks between the national census counts.

What's Inside? This comprehensive volume is packed with detailed information:

1. County Information: A detailed topographical account of Leicestershire and Rutland, including geology, agriculture, and history.
2. Court Directory (The Private Residents): An alphabetical list of the gentry, clergy, and prominent private residents living in the county at the time.
3. Town & Village Directories: Detailed street-by-street and alphabetical listings for major towns like Leicester, Loughborough, Melton Mowbray, Oakham, and Uppingham, as well as every small village in the counties.
4. Commercial & Trade Directory: A classified section listing businesses by trade. Find out who the local bakers, blacksmiths, and drapers were in your ancestor’s village.
5. Local Administration: Listings of county council officials, magistrates, and public officers.

Historical Context & Local Colour (1912) Reading this directory transports you to a Leicestershire on the cusp of the modern era:

• Industrial Powerhouse: In 1912, Leicester was renowned as one of the foremost industrial centres of the UK. The directory is teeming with entries for Boot and Shoe manufacturers (such as Freeman, Hardy & Willis) and the massive Hosiery and Knitwear trade that clothed the empire.
• Sporting Heritage: The county has a rich sporting history visible in these pages. You will find references to the home of Leicestershire County Cricket Club at Grace Road and the historic Leicester Tigers rugby club, which had already been thrilling fans for over 30 years by this point.
• Famous Residents & Figures: While browsing the private residents, you might encounter the names of influential figures of the era. Alice Hawkins, a prominent suffragette and shoe machinist, was active in Leicester during this period, fighting for the women's vote just six years before it was partially achieved. You may also find listings related to the estates of the noble families that historically dominated the rolling landscapes of Rutland.
• The Music of the Era: 1912 was the height of the Music Hall era. While the directory lists businesses and officials, the "Agents" and "Entertainers" sections provide a glimpse into the performers and musicians touring the local theatres and halls in Leicester.

Important Disclaimer Regarding Maps Please be advised that this directory has been scanned from an original historical source. In many original copies, the county or town maps were removed or damaged over the last century. Consequently, maps may be missing from this reproduction. However, if the original source copy we utilized contained the maps, they have been included as a fantastic bonus feature to aid your research!