The Post Office Directory Of Bath 1864-1865

The Post Office Directory of Bath 1864-1865 (Digital Download or CD)

Product Description

Step back into the elegant Georgian streets of Victorian Bath with this high-quality reproduction of The Post Office Directory of Bath 1864-1865. This essential genealogy resource bridges the critical gap between the 1861 and 1871 censuses, offering you a unique snapshot of your ancestors’ lives during the mid-Victorian era.

Whether your family were wealthy gentry taking the waters, tradesmen serving the city, or workers in the bustling local industries, this directory provides the names and addresses that bring your family tree to life.

About this Format: This directory is a facsimile of the original book, preserved as scanned images (PDF format). While the text is not embedded (meaning you cannot simply "Ctrl+F" to search instantly), the directory is structured alphabetically by surname and trade, making navigation surprisingly intuitive and easy.

Tech Tip: Many modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat) now perform OCR (Optical Character Recognition) on the fly. This often allows you to search the text using your reader's built-in tools, enhancing usability without altering the vintage aesthetic of the original pages.

What's Inside: This comprehensive volume is packed with details crucial for local historians and genealogists:

• Private Residents Directory: An alphabetical list of the prominent householders and gentry of Bath.
• Commercial & Trades Directory: Classified lists of businesses and tradespeople, from bakers and bootmakers to physicians and solicitors.
• Street Directory: A invaluable resource for locating specific houses and who lived next door to your ancestors.
• Court Directory: Listings of local officials, clergy, and public institutions.
• Advertisements: Fascinating period advertisements illustrating the products and services available to Victorian consumers.

Census Context: The ten-year gap between the 1861 and 1871 censuses often leaves genealogists with "missing" decades where families moved, children were born, or elderly relatives passed away. This directory serves as the perfect substitute census, helping you pin down a family's location between the national counts.

Local History & Famous Residents: Bath in 1864 was a city of transition, balancing its reputation as a fashionable spa retreat with a growing industrial landscape.

• Industry & Engineering: By this time, the Stothert & Pitt engineering firm was already establishing its reputation, later becoming world-famous for cranes.
• Sporting History: Bath Rugby Football Club was founded just a year after this publication (1865), highlighting the city's burgeoning sporting culture.
• Music & Culture: The city remained a hub for music, with the Pump Room Band performing daily for the fashionable set.
• Notable Figures: While the Jane Austen era had passed, the city was still home to the elite. Sir William Holburne, the notable art collector whose collection would later found the Holburne Museum, was a prominent figure in the city during this period. The directory also captures the residency of various Members of Parliament and military figures residing in the Royal Crescent and Circus.

Important Note regarding Maps: Please note that due to the age and binding of the original source books, some editions may be missing the fold-out street map often found in directories. However, where present, the map has been included as a valuable bonus to help you navigate the Victorian layout of the city.

System Requirements: Compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux. Requires a PDF reader (Adobe Reader or similar).

Unlock the secrets of your Bath ancestry today!