Kelly's Directory Of Surrey 1913

Kelly's Directory of Surrey 1913 - Digital Download or CD-ROM

Product Description:

Step back into the Edwardian era and uncover the lives of your ancestors with this comprehensive republishing of Kelly's Directory of Surrey 1913.

High quality scanned images of the original pages, allowing you to explore the county as it was over a century ago. While this directory is not text-searchable in its file structure, it has been meticulously organized alphabetically by town and parish, making navigation incredibly intuitive. Furthermore, most modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat or browser-based viewers) now feature "OCR on the fly," allowing you to search the text visually using the built-in search functions of your software.

Why You Need This Directory: Bridging the Census Gap

Are you struggling to trace family members between the 1911 and 1921 censuses? Historical records often have gaps, and just like today, many citizens of the past harbored a deep distrust of government interference. Whether due to privacy concerns, political disagreements, or a simple desire to stay off the official radar, many heads of households refused to fill in census forms or provided misleading information.

If your ancestors seem to have vanished from official records, they may well be listed right here in Kelly's. This directory serves as an essential "census substitute," capturing private residents, tradesmen, and farmers who might otherwise have slipped through the cracks of history.

A Snapshot of Surrey in 1913

This was a time of immense transition. Surrey was transforming from a rural patchwork of villages into the bustling commuter belt of London, while simultaneously being the birthplace of British aviation and motorsport.

Famous Residents & Notable Names of the Era

• Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: The creator of Sherlock Holmes was a prominent resident of Hindhead (having lived at "Undershaw"). You can find local tradesmen who would have supplied his household in the Haslemere and Hindhead sections.
• Ralph Vaughan Williams: The legendary composer was living in Dorking at this time, gathering inspiration from the Surrey Hills.
• John Galsworthy: The author of The Forsyte Saga spent time in the Kingston upon Thames area.

Industry, Sport, and Leisure

• Brooklands: By 1913, Weybridge was home to Brooklands, the world’s first purpose-built motor racing circuit and a pioneering aviation site. The directory lists the engineers, fitters, and aviation pioneers fueling this technological boom.
• Cycling: Surrey was (and remains) the heart of British road cycling. The North and South Downs were popular with the burgeoning cycling clubs, and local directories are filled with bicycle manufacturers and repair shops.
• The Nursery of Cricket: With the Oval in Kennington and countless village greens, Surrey’s obsession with cricket is evident in the listings of local equipment manufacturers and club secretaries.

What’s Inside? This directory is divided into several useful sections to aid your research:

1. Surrey Information & Statistics: A detailed look at the county’s geology, magistrates, and public institutions.
2. Court Directory (The Private Residents): An alphabetical list of private residents, crucial for tracing the gentry and wealthy middle classes who did not trade.
3. Trades Directory: A comprehensive classified list of businesses. From Blacksmiths in Bagshot to Wheelwrights in Weybridge, this is the best place to find working-class ancestors who ran their own shops.
4. Parish & Town Histories: Descriptions of the topography, ancient history, and local landmarks of every major town and village.

Map Disclaimer: Please note: Due to the age and condition of the original source book, the fold-out maps were sometimes removed or damaged before scanning. While we have made every effort to include them, the presence of the original county map cannot be guaranteed. If the maps are present in this edition, please consider it a valuable bonus!

Product Details:

• Format: Compatible PDF (High Quality Scanned Images).
• Delivery: Available as a Digital Download (link sent via email) or on a Physical CD-ROM.
• Compatibility: Works on PC, Mac, and Mobile devices.