Kelly's Directory Of Watford Bushey & Rickmansworth 1931 Census Substitute

Kelly's Directory of Watford, Bushey & Rickmansworth 1931 – Digital Download or CD-ROM (Census Substitute)

Product Description:

Unlock the secrets of your Hertfordshire ancestors with this high-quality digital reproduction of Kelly's Directory of Watford, Bushey & Rickmansworth 1931.

Because the 1931 Census for England and Wales was tragically destroyed in a fire in 1942, and the 1921 Census is still relatively restricted, this directory serves as an absolute must-have census substitute. It bridges the crucial genealogical gap between the 1911 census and the 1939 Register, allowing you to pinpoint exactly where your family lived and worked at the dawn of the 1930s.

Format & Usability: This product is available as an instant digital download or on a CD-ROM. The directory consists of high-resolution scanned images of the original book (PDF format). While the file is not text-searchable in its native state due to being scanned images, it is incredibly easy to navigate because the directories are strictly alphabetically arranged. Pro Tip: Modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat Reader, Edge, or Chrome) feature "OCR on the fly" technology. This means you can simply use the CTRL+F (or CMD+F) search function, and your reader will scan the visual text on the page, allowing for quick and easy keyword searches!

What’s Inside? (Directory Sections) This comprehensive volume is divided into highly useful sections for genealogists and local historians:

• Historical & Topographical Information: Detailed histories of Watford, Bushey, and Rickmansworth, including local government officials, magistrates, and church incumbents.
• Street Directory: An alphabetical list of streets, detailing the head of the household and their occupation at each specific address or house number.
• Private Residents (Alphabetical): A classic Kelly's section listing the names, addresses, and occupations of the local gentry, professionals, and prominent private citizens.
• Commercial & Trade Directory: Alphabetical by trade (from bakers and blacksmiths to wheelwrights and wine merchants), perfect for finding your ancestors' specific businesses.
• Official & Institutional Information: Details on local hospitals, schools, police forces, postal services, and railway timetables.

Local Life in 1931: Famous Faces & Fascinating Facts The year 1931 was a vibrant time for this corner of Hertfordshire, transitioning from a rural market town hub into a bustling London overflow. As you browse these pages, you are looking at the same streets walked by:

• Famous Residents: Future celebrity photographer and royal husband Antony Armstrong-Jones (Lord Snowdon) was born in Belvedere, Watford in 1930, meaning his family appears in this very directory. You will also find the residences of the powerful Benskin family, owners of the famous Watford-based Benskins Brewery, which dominated the local economy.
• Sporting Heritage: Watford FC was playing at their Cassio Road ground in 1931 (they wouldn't move to Vicarage Road until 1922, wait, correction: they moved to Vicarage Road in 1922, so they were well established there by 1931!). You'll find the names of the club's committee members and local sporting figures.
• Industry & Transport: Watford was an industrial powerhouse. You will see listings for the immense Scammell Lorries works and Odhams Press, one of the largest printing works in the world at the time, which brought thousands of workers to the area.
• Bushey's Artistic Legacy: Bushey was still basking in the legacy of the famous Herkomer Art School, and the directory lists many artists, sculptors, and art teachers residing in the picturesque village.
• Rickmansworth's Waterways: Known as the gateway to the Chilterns, Rickmansworth’s entries heavily feature its connection to the Grand Union Canal, with numerous boat builders, wharfingers, and waterway trade businesses listed.

Important Map Disclaimer: Please Note: Original copies of this directory often had their pull-out maps removed by previous owners over the last 90+ years. We have scanned the book exactly as we sourced it. Therefore, the map is not guaranteed to be present. However, if the original map is still tucked inside this specific copy, consider it a fantastic free bonus!

Whether you are tracing your family tree, researching the history of your house, or fascinated by interwar Hertfordshire, this 1931 Kelly's Directory is an invaluable addition to your digital library.