Kelly's Directory of Northamptonshire 1906 (Digital Download or CD)

Product Description

Step back into the Edwardian era with this detailed republication of Kelly's Directory of Northamptonshire 1906. An essential resource for genealogists, local historians, and house researchers, this directory offers a complete snapshot of life in the county just after the turn of the 20th century.

Available as a high-quality digital download or on a convenient CD, this digital book contains scans of the original pages, preserving the authentic look and feel of the historic text.

Navigability & Search Features

Please note that because this is a reproduction of scanned historical images, the text is not embedded or searchable in the traditional sense. However, Kelly's Directories are famous for their strict alphabetical organization. You can navigate with ease to specific towns or villages, and then find residents or tradespeople alphabetically within those sections.

• Tip: Most modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat) now offer "OCR on the fly." This means you can often use the "Find" function (Ctrl+F or Command+F) to search for surnames or street names, even though the file is an image scan.

What's Inside the Directory?

This comprehensive volume is divided into several useful sections to aid your research:

1. County Information: A detailed history of Northamptonshire, including its geology, topography, and statistics on agriculture, population, and climate.
2. The Court Directory (Private Residents): An alphabetical list of the gentry, clergy, and prominent private citizens living in the county at the time. This is invaluable for tracing family trees where the individuals did not run a business.
3. The Commercial Directory (Trades): A classified listing of trades and professions. From boot makers to blacksmiths, innkeepers to insurance agents, this section allows you to see exactly who provided services in each town and village.
4. Town and Village Histories: Detailed descriptions of the major towns (Northampton, Kettering, Wellingborough, etc.) and smaller villages, listing local landmarks, churches, and civic officials.
5. Advertisements: Period advertisements for local businesses, medicines, and services. These add wonderful color and context to your family history research.

Bridging the Census Gaps

For family historians, the 1906 directory is a vital tool for bridging the gap between the 1901 and 1911 Censuses. If your ancestors moved house, changed occupations, or passed away between these census years, this directory provides the only year-by-year confirmation of their residence and livelihood.

Famous People & Northamptonshire History (1906 Context)

Northamptonshire in 1906 was a hub of industry and aristocracy. While browsing these pages, you may come across residents connected to the following local facts and figures:

• The Spencer Family: The iconic Althorp estate (seat of the Spencer family) features prominently. In 1906, Charles Spencer, 6th Earl Spencer (who was later Lord Chamberlain to King Edward VII and the grandfather of Princess Diana), was the notable figurehead of the county.
• The Shoe & Leather Industry: Northampton was the undisputed "Shoe Capital of the World" during this period. The directory is filled with tanners and factors associated with massive companies like Lattey & Co and Turnbull.
• Engineering & Railways: With the expansion of the railway, Northampton was a key junction. You will find references to employees and masters associated with the London and North Western Railway (LNWR).
• Ironstone Mining: The early 1900s saw a boom in ironstone mining in the east of the county (around Corby and Kettering), bringing an influx of workers into the villages listed in this book.

Map Disclaimer

Please be aware: We have reproduced this directory exactly as it was printed over 100 years ago. In some original print runs, the county or town maps were torn out or missing by the time the directories were collected for archiving. While every effort has been made to ensure the completeness of the text, if a map is present in the original source we used, it is included here as a fantastic bonus. However, we cannot guarantee the presence of maps in every copy.

Unlock the secrets of your Northamptonshire ancestors today with this fascinating historical record.