Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire 1913 (Digital Download or CD)

Step back into the pre-war era with this definitive guide to Lincolnshire in 1913.

Whether you are a genealogist tracing your family tree, a local historian researching the evolution of Lincolnshire villages, or simply fascinated by Edwardian England, this directory is an essential resource. Available as a convenient digital download or on a physical CD, this high-quality reproduction offers a fascinating snapshot of life just one year before the outbreak of the First World War.

About the Format & Navigation

This directory is a digitized scan of the original book, presented as a high-resolution PDF. While the text consists of scanned images and is not "digitally searchable" in the traditional sense (i.e., hidden text layers), the directory was originally compiled alphabetically. This makes navigation incredibly intuitive; you can scroll directly to the specific town, village, or surname you are looking for.

Furthermore, most modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat, Edge, or Preview) now perform OCR (Optical Character Recognition) on the fly. This allows you to use the "Find" function (Ctrl+F or Cmd+F) to locate names and places, offering the best of both worlds: the authenticity of the original page layout with modern search capabilities.

Bridging the Census Gaps

For family historians, the 1911 census is often the stopping point, with the 1921 census being the next major record. This 1913 directory is the perfect tool to bridge that gap. It allows you to:

• Confirm if ancestors were still at the same address.
• Discover if sons had taken over family businesses.
• Identify the specific occupations of working-age family members between census years.

What's Inside the Directory?

Kelly’s Directories were renowned for their comprehensive detail. This publication is divided into several distinct sections to aid your research:

1. County Information & Statistics: A detailed history of the county, including topography, geology, and administrative details (Magistrates, County Council members, and Public Officers).
2. The Court Directory (The Private Residents): An alphabetical list of the gentry, clergy, and prominent private residents. This is where you will find the wealthy landowners and professionals living in the "Big Houses."
3. The Trades Directory: Classified listings by profession. Whether you are looking for a Blacksmith in Boston, a Draper in Louth, or a Grocer in Grimsby, this section allows you to reconstruct the high streets of 1913.
4. Town & Village Directories: Street-by-street and house-by-house listings for major towns like Lincoln, Grimsby, and Grantham, as well as comprehensive coverage of the smaller villages and hamlets.

Lincolnshire Life in 1913: Facts & Figures

This directory captures a county in transition, balancing ancient rural traditions with booming modern industry.

• The Industrial Powerhouse: In 1913, Lincolnshire was a hub of engineering. The directory features the great engineers of Lincoln, including William Foster & Co. (famous later for developing the tanks) and Ruston, Proctor & Co., which were employing thousands and driving the city's economy.
• Agriculture & The Land: As the agricultural heart of England, the directory is filled with the names of farmers and landowners managing the vast arable fields of the Wolds and the marshy Fens.
• Famous Associations:
  • While he had passed away in 1892, the legacy of Alfred, Lord Tennyson (born in Somersby) is still deeply woven into the county's fabric, likely referenced in the historical descriptions of the Wolds.
  • The birthplace of Sir Isaac Newton at Woolsthorpe Manor remains a site of significant local interest, noted in the local descriptions.
  • Look out for the local dignitaries and Mayors of Grimsby and Lincoln, many of whom were the industrial magnates shaping the region.
• Sport & Leisure: The county was sports-mad. The directory lists the grounds for Lincoln City FC and Grimsby Town FC, as well as local cricket clubs and archery societies, showing a community that valued leisure amidst hard work.

Important Note Regarding Maps

Please note: In the original binding of these directories, the map section was often prone to damage or removal by previous owners over the last century. While we make every effort to provide complete editions, please be aware that the original county map may be missing from this reproduction. If the map is present, consider it a bonus addition to an already valuable resource.

Unlock the secrets of your Lincolnshire ancestors today.

Format: PDF (Digital Download or CD-ROM) Compatibility: Works on all computers and tablets capable of reading PDFs.