Webster's Directory Of Oxford Abingdon Woodstock & Neighbourhood 1872

Webster’s Directory of Oxford, Abingdon, Woodstock & Neighbourhood 1872 – Digital Download or CD

Product Description:

Step back into the heart of Victorian England with this exquisite republishing of Webster’s Directory of Oxford, Abingdon, Woodstock & Neighbourhood for 1872. An essential resource for genealogists, local historians, and anyone tracing their family tree in Oxfordshire, this directory offers a fascinating snapshot of life just after the height of the Industrial Revolution.

Whether you are looking for a tradesman in the bustling city streets or a long-lost relative in a quiet village, this directory provides the details you need to bridge the gap between the 1871 and 1881 census records.

Navigation & Technical Details

This directory is a high-quality scan of the original book, presented in PDF format.

• Format: Available as a convenient Digital Download or on a physical CD-ROM.
• Searchability: As these are scanned images of the original text, the file is not inherently searchable. However, due to the alphabetical nature of the directory, locating specific surnames or trades is straightforward.
• Pro Tip: Many modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat) now perform "OCR on the fly," allowing you to search the text using your reader's search function.

What’s Inside?

This comprehensive volume is meticulously organized to help you find exactly who or what you are looking for:

1. Street Directory: A detailed listing of the principal streets of Oxford, helping you pinpoint exactly where your ancestors lived.
2. Private Residents Directory: An alphabetical list of private households, perfect for tracing family lines and the social hierarchy of the time.
3. Commercial & Trades Directory: A classified list of businesses and tradesmen. From butchers to bankers, see what the local high streets looked like long before modern chains took over.
4. Court & Official Directories: Listings of civic officials, magistrates, and local clergy, useful for understanding the administrative structure of the town.
5. Neighbourhood Villages: Extensive coverage of the surrounding hamlets and villages, ensuring that rural ancestors are not forgotten.

Historical Context & Census Gaps

While the 1871 Census is a primary resource, it only provides a snapshot of one night. This 1872 directory fills the void for the subsequent years, capturing families who may have moved house, changed occupations, or were missed by the census enumerators entirely. It is the perfect tool to track movements between the decennial census years.

Famous Residents & Local History

Oxford in 1872 was a hub of intellect, religion, and industry. Within these pages, you may find references to:

• Lewis Carroll (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson): The renowned author of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and Through the Looking-Glass (1871) was living and working in Oxford at this time.
• John Ruskin: The leading English art critic of the Victorian era, who was the Slade Professor of Fine Art at the University.
• The Pre-Raphaelites: Oxford was a center of artistic movement; connections to figures like William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones echo through the city's history during this period.

Local Facts & Industries

• The University: The directory highlights the "Town vs. Gown" dynamic, listing the myriad colleges, dons, and officials that defined the city’s economy.
• Printing & Publishing: By 1872, Oxford was establishing itself as a global center for printing, centered around the Oxford University Press (the Clarendon Press).
• Abingdon: Famous for its Morland Brewery and its long history as a royal borough.
• Woodstock: Historically known for glove making, and of course, its proximity to the magnificent Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill (though he would not be born until 1874).
• Sport: Mention of the rowing clubs can be found, reflecting the fierce rivalry of the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race which was already a national institution by this date.

Important Note Regarding Maps

Please note that while many original volumes of this era contained fold-out maps, some pages may have been missing or too damaged to include from the source material used for this scanning. If maps are present in this specific copy, please treat them as a valuable bonus.

Unlock the secrets of your Oxfordshire ancestry today with this timeless historical record.