Wright's Directory Of Nottingham & Suburbs 1913-1914

Wright’s Directory of Nottingham & Suburbs 1913-1914 (Digital Download or CD)

Product Description

Step back into the twilight of the Edwardian era with this republished facsimile of Wright’s Directory of Nottingham & Suburbs 1913-1914. Perfect for genealogists, local historians, and house researchers, this directory offers a fascinating snapshot of Nottingham life on the eve of the First World War.

About This Directory This volume serves as a vital census substitute. As genealogists know, the 1911 Census was the last major survey until 1921. This directory bridges that gap, capturing population movements, changes in trade, and new residents just as the world was about to change forever.

Please note: This product is a high-quality scan of the original book. The text consists of scanned images, not digitally embedded text. While the pages are not "searchable" in the traditional sense (Ctrl+F), the directory is arranged alphabetically by surname and trade, making navigation intuitive and straightforward. Furthermore, most modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat) perform OCR (Optical Character Recognition) on the fly, allowing you to search the content if your reader supports this feature.

What’s Inside? Wright’s Directories are renowned for their comprehensive detail. This edition covers Nottingham and its expanding suburbs, including Basford, Bulwell, Arnold, Carlton, West Bridgford, and Beeston.

The book is divided into easy-to-use sections:

1. Street Directory: An alphabetical list of streets with the heads of households and trades listed at each address. Essential for tracing the history of specific houses.
2. Commercial Directory: A listing of local businesses and tradespeople, from the massive lace manufacturers to the corner shop grocers.
3. Court Directory: A list of private residents (the "elite" and middle classes) arranged alphabetically by surname.
4. Official & Clerical Directory: Listings of local government officials, clergy, medical officers, and public institutions.
5. Advertisements: A delightful collection of contemporary ads for local products, providing flavor and context to the era.

Nottingham in 1913: A City in Focus This directory captures a city at the height of its industrial power.

• The Industries of Lace & Bicycles: In 1913, Nottingham was the heart of the world’s lace production. You will find numerous entries for lace manufacturers and finishers. Additionally, the city was a pioneer in transport; the Raleigh Bicycle Company was already a major employer, and this era saw the city transitioning toward the age of the motorcar.
• Famous Residents: While he was born locally in Eastwood, the author D.H. Lawrence was a rising figure in the literary world during this time, having published Sons and Lovers in 1913. The directory also lists the residences of Jesse Boot, the 1st Baron Trent, who was transforming his family’s herbal medicine shop into the national retail giant known as Boots the Chemist. Also, look out for the young Albert Ball, a local lad who would soon become one of Britain’s greatest WWI flying aces; his father, a successful plumber, is listed in this directory.
• Sport & Leisure: Football was a passion for the city. Both Notts County (the world's oldest professional football league club) and Nottingham Forest had active followings. The directory lists officials and players often living near the grounds.
• Music: The city had a vibrant musical theatre scene, and this was the heyday of the Music Hall, where performers would entertain the masses in venues like the Empire Theatre.

Important Disclaimer Due to the age of the original source material and the removal of plates by previous owners over the last century, some directories may be missing the original fold-out maps. We have restored the book to the best of our ability. However, if the maps are present in your copy, please consider it a bonus!

Formats Available

• Digital Download: High-quality PDF files, available immediately after purchase.
• CD-ROM: Mailed to you, perfect for archiving or those with slower internet connections.

Unlock the history of your Nottingham ancestors today!