Kelly's Post Office Directory Of London County Suburbs 1916

Kelly's Post Office Directory of London County Suburbs 1916 (North & South Combined)

Unlock the history of Greater London during the Great War.

Published in 1916, this incredibly rare and valuable edition of Kelly’s Post Office Directory marks a significant transition in historical publishing. Utilizing Kelly's "new format," this volume combines both the South and North London County Suburbs into a single, comprehensive book.

For genealogists, this directory is an absolute treasure trove. Because there is no official census available for England and Wales between 1911 and 1921, this 1916 directory acts as a vital "census substitute," allowing you to pinpoint exactly where your ancestors lived and worked while the men were away fighting in the trenches and the home front underwent massive social change.

Navigating the Directory: Format & Searchability

Please note that this product consists of high-quality scanned images of the original book (available as an instant digital download or on a CD-ROM). The text is not embedded, meaning it is not natively searchable by typing a name into a search bar.

However, do not let this deter you! Kelly's directories are meticulously formatted in alphabetical order by parish and street, making manual navigation incredibly fast and intuitive. Furthermore, if you are using a modern PDF reader (such as Adobe Acrobat Reader DC), the software features "OCR on the fly". This means you can simply click the "Search" function, type in a surname or street name, and the modern software will read the scanned text and find your ancestors for you!

What's Inside? (Directory Sections)

This combined volume is densely packed with details of everyday life. It includes:

• Court & Professional Directory: Lists of local magistrates, clergy, doctors, solicitors, and surveyors.
• Street Directory: An alphabetical listing of streets in each suburb, detailing the head of the household at every address—perfect for tracing exact residence locations.
• Commercial & Trades Directory: A fantastic resource for finding shopkeepers, factory owners, and tradesmen. If your ancestor was a baker, a blacksmith, or a draper, you will find them here.
• Parish & Institutional Information: Detailed historical notes on each borough, including local council members, parish clerks, and locations of hospitals, schools, and churches.

A Snapshot of London Suburbs in 1916: Famous Faces & Fascinating Facts

The London suburbs in 1916 were a melting pot of Edwardian gentility, rapid industrialization, and the realities of WWI. Within these pages, you will find the neighborhoods of famous historical figures:

• Literary Legends: In 1916, a young Enid Blyton had just moved to Hook Road in Surbiton (then part of the Kingston suburbs) to begin her teaching career, shortly before becoming one of the world's best-selling authors.
• Musical Maestros: The great English composer Sir Edward Elgar was residing in Hampstead (North London) during this exact period, mourning the loss of his wife while continuing to compose.
• Sports & Recreation: The suburbs were the heartland of British sport. You'll pass through the streets near the grounds of Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace FC. Rugby was also dominant, with the Harlequins and London Scottish clubs deeply impacted by the war (many of their players are listed in the pre-war commercial sections, while their addresses may later show widows or vacant properties).
• WWI Industry: By 1916, suburban industry had pivoted entirely to the war effort. The streets of Kingston, Richmond, and Hendon were populated by workers from the Sopwith Aviation Company (manufacturing the famous Sopwith Camel aircraft) and numerous munitions factories, bringing thousands of working-class women into the suburban workforce for the first time.

Important Disclaimer Regarding Maps

Please Note: Original copies of Kelly’s directories varied slightly in their print runs. Some editions included pull-out maps of the London boroughs, while others did not. We cannot guarantee that the map section is present in this specific 1916 scan. If the original map is included in the scanned book we have sourced, consider it a wonderful bonus! The directory is sold primarily for its unparalleled textual data.

Format Options

Choose the format that best suits your research style:

• Digital Download: Instant access after checkout. Download the PDF files directly to your computer or tablet and start researching immediately. No shipping costs!
• CD-ROM: Mailed directly to your door. Perfect for those who prefer a physical backup of their genealogical data or have slower internet connections.

Reconnect with your London ancestors today and step back into the streets of 1916!