Kelly's Directory Of Acton 1939

Kelly's Directory of Acton 1939: The Last Peacetime Portrait of a London Suburb

Step back into the pivotal summer of 1939. With the shadow of war lengthening across Europe, life in Acton carried on with a unique blend of pre-war routine and underlying tension. This is the world captured in its entirety within the pages of Kelly's Directory of Acton 1939—an invaluable historical document and a fascinating time capsule.

This isn't just a list of names and addresses; it is the final, complete census of Acton's community before the world changed forever. It preserves a snapshot of the town's streets, shops, and citizens on the very eve of the Second World War, making it an irreplaceable resource for researchers and historians.

What's Inside?

Street-by-Street Directory: A comprehensive listing of every house and its head of household. Walk down the Uxbridge Road, the High Street, or the quiet residential avenues as they were in 1939.
Commercial & Trades Directory: An A-Z of Acton's bustling commercial life. Find the local grocer, the butcher, the builder, the tailor, and the countless small businesses that formed the backbone of the community.
Official Information: Details on the local council, officials, churches, schools, doctors, and public institutions, providing a complete picture of the town's civic structure.
Court & Postal Information: Essential data for understanding the administrative workings of the time.
Period Advertisements: A charming and authentic collection of advertisements for local and national businesses, offering a vivid glimpse into the fashions, products, and language of the late 1930s.
Who Is This For?

The Genealogist: Trace your Acton ancestors, discover their addresses, and uncover their occupations, building a richer picture of their lives.
The Local Historian: Research the evolution of Acton's streets, the rise and fall of local businesses, and the social fabric of the town before the Blitz and post-war reconstruction.
House Historians: Find out who lived in your house in 1939 and learn about your neighbourhood's pre-war character.
Writers & Researchers: Gain authentic, primary-source detail for any project set in suburban London during this defining era.
Why the 1939 Edition is Special:

This edition marks a profound moment in history. It records Acton as it was—intact, peaceful, and unaware of the immense changes, sacrifices, and transformations that were just months away. It is the baseline against which all subsequent history is measured.