Kelly's Post Office Directory of London 1915 (Digital Download or CD-ROM)

Step back into the heart of London during the Great War with a high-quality digital reproduction of Kelly's Post Office Directory of London 1915. Whether you are a genealogist, local historian, or simply fascinated by Edwardian/WWI-era London, this directory is an indispensable resource for piecing together the lives of your ancestors.

Available as an instant digital download or on a convenient CD-ROM, this directory contains hundreds of pages of beautifully scanned images.

Navigating & Searching the Directory

Because this is a faithfully reproduced scanned document, the file is not text-searchable in its native state. However, do not let that deter you! Kelly's directories are meticulously organized alphabetically, making it incredibly easy to navigate to exactly who or what you are looking for.

Pro Tip: When you open this PDF in a modern PDF reader (such as Adobe Acrobat Reader DC or Edge), the software performs OCR (Optical Character Recognition) on the fly. This means that by simply using the "Find" (Ctrl+F / Cmd+F) function, your modern software can read the text from the scanned images, giving you the best of both worlds: authentic historical documents with modern searchability!

Bridging the Census Gap

One of the most valuable aspects of this 1915 directory is its timing. Genealogists often hit a brick wall due to the "census gap." The 1911 census is the last publicly available census, and the 1921 census (recently released) is separated by a full decade. This 1915 directory perfectly bridges that gap, placing your ancestors exactly where they lived or worked during the pivotal early years of World War I.

Who Might You Find? Famous Londoners of 1915

While Kelly's primarily listed the head of the household, tradesmen, and professionals, leafing through the 1915 entries places you alongside some of the most notable figures residing in London at the time:

• Sir Winston Churchill: Listed at his London residence while serving in pivotal government roles during WWI.
• H.G. Wells: The prolific author and futurist, who maintained a presence in the capital's literary circles.
• George Bernard Shaw: The renowned playwright, residing in London while the world was at war.
• Sir Edward Elgar: The master composer, who was actively involved in London’s musical scene during the war years.

London in 1915: A Snapshot in Time

The year 1915 was a time of immense transition for London.

• The Zeppelin Scare: 1915 marked the first time London was bombed from the air by German Zeppelins, changing the city's landscape forever.
• Industry & The War Effort: The directory lists countless businesses that had pivoted to the war effort. The East End, traditionally known for shipbuilding and docks, was humming with munitions manufacturing, and you will find numerous entries for "munitions workers," "engineering works," and "government contractors."
• Sports: While the Football League was officially suspended due to the war, London clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, and West Ham United still fielded teams in regional war leagues to keep morale high.
• Music & Theatre: Despite the war, London's West End remained open. You will find listings for major theatres, music hall performers, and instrument makers, proving that the cultural heartbeat of the city continued to thrive.

What's Inside: Section Breakdown

This comprehensive volume is divided into highly useful sections:

1. Commercial Directory: An alphabetical list of trades and professions. Looking for a specific type of shop, a solicitor, or a tailor? This section groups them together.
2. Street Directory: An alphabetical listing of London’s streets, detailing the occupant or business at almost every house number. Perfect for mapping out a neighborhood.
3. Private Residents Directory: An alphabetical list of the private, affluent residents of London (usually excluding tradesmen unless they were of high social standing).
4. Official & Parliamentary Directory: Listings for government offices, civil servants, and local councils.
5. Courts & Institutions: Details of hospitals, asylums, prisons, schools, and universities.
6. Miscellaneous: Information on banks, railways, docks, and foreign consulates.

Important Disclaimer Regarding Maps

Please note: Original copies of Kelly’s Directory sometimes had their pull-out maps removed by previous owners, or the maps were too fragile to be scanned. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that the original maps are included in this digital edition. However, if the maps are present in the original scanned source, they will absolutely be included as a fantastic bonus feature!

Product Details

• Format: High-resolution PDF (Scanned Images).
• Availability: Choose between Instant Digital Download or CD-ROM (shipped via post).
• Compatibility: Works on any PC, Mac, tablet, or smartphone. Requires a standard PDF reader.

Unlock the secrets of your London ancestors today. Add Kelly's Post Office Directory of London 1915 to your cart and start exploring the streets of WWI London!