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Page’s Late Folthorp’s Directory & Court Guide of Brighton & Hove 1873 - Digital Download or CD-ROM

Uncover your Sussex ancestry with the premier Victorian guide to Britain's favourite seaside resort.

Whether you choose the instant digital download or the physical CD-ROM, this directory is an essential companion for researching Brighton, Hove, and Preston in the 1870s. It captures the local community during a massive boom in tourism, fashion, and urban growth.

Key Product Features & Navigation

High-Resolution Scanned Images: The directory contains high-quality digital scans of every original page from the rare 1873 edition.
Easy Alphabetical Navigation: While the pages are not indexed in a database, the directory's strict alphabetical layout makes it incredibly simple to browse by street address, surname, or trade.
On-the-Fly PDF OCR: Modern PDF readers (like Adobe Acrobat, Google Chrome, or Apple Preview) automatically run optical character recognition (OCR) background processes. This allows you to search words, highlight names, and find text on the fly as you read.
Format Flexibility: Download the complete file instantly to your device or order a physical CD-ROM to keep in your library.

Comprehensive Directory Sections

This historic guide is divided into specialized sections to give you a complete picture of your ancestor's life and status:

Street Directory: A house-by-house, street-by-street map of residents. This allows you to virtually walk past your ancestor's front door and see exactly who their neighbours were.
Court Guide: A dedicated register of the local gentry, nobility, clergy, and wealthy residents, complete with their private Brighton and Hove addresses.
Trades & Commercial Directory: A comprehensive business index listing everyone from independent fishermen, laundresses, and lodging-house keepers to beachfront hoteliers and carriage builders.
Public & Local Institutions: Detailed listings of town officials, police stations, local charities, schools, workhouses, and place-of-worship schedules.

Overcoming the Census Gap: Government Distrust

The 1870s saw rising public anxiety over state surveillance. Just like the privacy and data collection concerns of the modern day, many Victorians harboured deep distrust toward government officials and official forms.

Because the mandatory 1871 Census felt invasive to some, people frequently evaded the enumerators, gave false names, or refused to fill out the paperwork properly. Local directories like Page's Late Folthorp's were viewed differently. Being listed was a matter of commercial survival and local prestige. If your ancestors are missing from the 1871 Census, they may well be listed here instead, filling an otherwise frustrating genealogical gap.

Historical Context: Brighton & Hove in 1873

By 1873, Brighton and Hove had evolved from a quiet fishing town into "London by the Sea," a bustling hub of health, leisure, and industry.

Thriving Local Industry: While tourism and luxury lodging dominated the seafront, the town relied on heavy industry inland. This included the massive Brighton Railway Works (building locomotives for the LB&SCR), a booming building trade, and traditional fishing.
Sports & Entertainment: The historic Sussex County Cricket Club (the oldest county club in England) was a major local draw. The spectacular Brighton Aquarium had just opened in 1872, quickly becoming a world-famous center for music, science, and Victorian entertainment.
Famous Residents: This era attracted brilliant creative minds. Master of horror author Bram Stoker spent significant time here, while the famous classical composer and musician absolute pioneer, Sir Arthur Sullivan (of Gilbert and Sullivan), frequently visited and worked in the town during this exact period.

Important Map Disclaimer

Please note: Due to the extreme scarcity and fragile nature of original 1873 volumes, the large fold-out street maps were frequently torn, misplaced, or kept by previous owners over the last 150 years. While we try to find complete copies, these maps may be missing from your digital scan or CD. Consider it an absolute bonus if the map is included in your file!

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This product was added to our catalog on Monday 03 November, 2025.