Kelly's Directory Of Somersetshire 1914

Kelly's Directory of Somersetshire 1914 – Scanned Archive Edition (Digital Download or CD)

Product Description:

Step back in time to the eve of the First World War with this complete republication of Kelly's Directory of Somersetshire 1914. An essential resource for genealogists, local historians, and anyone researching family history in the West Country, this directory offers a fascinating snapshot of life in Somerset over a century ago.

Bridging the Census Gap The 1911 Census is a treasure trove, but the 1921 Census remains restricted/expensive and the 1931 Census was tragically destroyed in the war. This 1914 directory is the perfect bridge, allowing you to trace your ancestors between the census years. See where they lived, their occupations, and their social standing just as the Edwardian era drew to a close.

Contents & Breakdown This comprehensive volume is packed with detailed information, divided into easy-to-navigate sections:

1. Bath & County Sub-sections: A dedicated, extensive section for the City of Bath, followed by a comprehensive tour of the county.
2. Court Directory (Private Residents): An alphabetical list of private residents, offering names and addresses of the gentry, clergy, and wealthier landowners—perfect for finding the "head of the house."
3. Commercial Directory (Trades): A classified professional directory. Whether your ancestors were bakers in Bridgwater, glovers in Yeovil, or miners in Radstock, you will find them listed here alongside their business location.
4. Parish & Town Histories: Detailed descriptions of every major town and village, including local government officials, facilities, and transportation links.
5. Statistics & Topography: Information on the county’s geology, agriculture, and demographics of the time.

Famous Somerset Connections Somerset in 1914 was home to a mix of agricultural tradition and industrial innovation. While browsing, you may walk the same streets as notable historical figures associated with the county, or find the family homes of ancestors of famous personalities born here, such as:

• Admiral Robert Blake: The great naval hero was born in Bridgwater; you can explore the town as it stood in his ancestral memory.
• Arthur C. Clarke: Though born later (1917), the Clarke family was rooted in Minehead; this directory shows the town environment his family knew.
• H. J. Massingham: The renowned writer on rural English life, who lived in Somerset during this period.

A Snapshot of Somerset Life: 1914

• Industry: The directory captures a county in transition. While the traditional manufacture of Worcester gloves (Yeovil) and cider making (Taunton/Hereford borders) remained strong, the Somerset coalfield (Radstock, Midsomer Norton) was thriving, providing the coal that powered the nation.
• Sport & Leisure: Football was capturing the hearts of the working class, with clubs like Yeovil Town (formed 1895) and Bath City (founded 1889) establishing themselves. The directory lists the local grounds and officials of the era.
• Music & Culture: The West Country brass band tradition was at its height; look for listings of musical instrument sellers and local bands that were the social center of village life.
• The Great War Begins: Published at the start of WWI, this directory records the names of men who would soon enlist. It serves as a poignant "before" picture of the young men of Somerset.

Navigability & Search Technology Please note that this product is a high-quality scan of the original book. It consists of digitally scanned images, meaning the text is not embedded in the traditional sense. However, Kelly's Directories are famously alphabetical, making it incredibly easy to manually navigate to the town or trade you require.

Modern PDF OCR Feature: Thanks to advances in technology, most modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat Reader, Edge, or Preview) now perform OCR (Optical Character Recognition) on the fly. This means when you open the file, your software attempts to read the text, allowing you to use the "Find" or "Search" function to locate surnames or street names with reasonable accuracy.

Map Disclaimer & Bonus Every effort has been made to preserve the integrity of the original directory. Please be aware that occasionally, original map pages were detached or damaged in the source books before scanning. If the original map was present in the book we scanned, it will be included in this edition as a valuable bonus—providing a wonderful visual aid to understanding parish boundaries.

Product Formats:

• Digital Download: High-quality PDF file, accessible immediately after purchase.
• CD-ROM: Physical disc sent via post, ideal for archiving or those with slower internet connections.

Unlock the doors to your Somerset past today!