Kelly's Directory Of Surrey 1878

Kelly's Directory of Surrey 1878 - Digital Download or CD-ROM

Product Description:

Unlock the secrets of your Surrey ancestry with this exact digital reproduction of Kelly's Directory of Surrey 1878. Whether you are tracing a family tree, researching local history, or exploring the Victorian era, this directory is an indispensable resource for bridging the gap between the 1871 and 1881 census records.

The "Missing" Ancestors Solution Much like the skepticism often seen in modern times, the late Victorian period was not without its detractors of government intervention. Many citizens were wary of the census enumerators and, due to a distrust of authority or simple privacy concerns, refused to fill in the census forms, provided false information, or were simply inadvertently missed. If your ancestors seem to have vanished between census years, there is a high probability they are recorded right here. As a commercial directory, inclusion was often essential for business and trade, meaning this resource captures many individuals who deliberately dodged the official census.

Navigating the 1878 Archives This directory is a high-quality scan of the original book, presented in PDF format. While the pages are scanned images and do not contain embedded searchable text, the directory is organized alphabetically by parish and town, making manual navigation surprisingly intuitive. Furthermore, most modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat or browser-based viewers) now feature "OCR on the fly," allowing you to use the search function to locate surnames and street names with ease.

What’s Inside? This comprehensive volume provides a fascinating snapshot of Surrey life in the late 19th century. It includes:

• Court Directory: Listings of the gentry, clergy, and influential residents, often including their country seats.
• Commercial & Trades Directory: A classified section detailing shopkeepers, traders, and business owners—from blacksmiths to bakers.
• Towns & Villages: Detailed descriptions of every major town and village, including local history, topography, and civic amenities.
• Private Residents: An alphabetical listing of private residents, exclusive of tradesmen, which is invaluable for tracing family members who did not run a business.
• Public Information: Details on local courts, postal services, transportation (carriers and coaches), and clergy.

Surrey in 1878: Famous Residents & Local colour This directory captures a county in transition. In 1878, Surrey was a mix of bustling industrial market towns and leafy rural retreats for the London elite.

• Literary Legends: At the time of this publication, the beloved author Lewis Carroll (Charles Dodgson) was a frequent visitor and resident at his sisters' home in Guildford ("The Chestnuts"). He is famously buried there, making the Guildford entries of particular interest to literary historians.
• The Sport of Kings: Surrey was the heart of British horse racing. The directory covers Epsom, home to the world-famous Derby, and details the infrastructure supporting this massive industry, including livery stables and trainers operating in the area.
• Industry & Innovation: While known for agriculture, Surrey was seeing the rise of new industries. The directory highlights the booming print works in the Woking area and the mills along the River Wey.
• Commuter Belt: With the railway network expanding, towns like Richmond, Kingston upon Thames, and Wimbledon were transforming from quiet riverside towns into fashionable suburbs for London's businessmen. You will find the names of early commuters who made this move.

Technical Note & Map Disclaimer

• Format: Available as a Digital Download (link provided after purchase) or a physical CD-ROM.
• Maps: We have scanned this directory from an original text. In many 19th-century directories, the county or town maps were removable inserts. Over the last 140+ years, many of these have been lost or torn out. While we strive for completeness, please be aware that if the original map is present, it is a bonus inclusion. We cannot guarantee the map's presence as it was missing from the source document used for scanning.