You can use directories to explore the history of particular city, town or village. They are also good sources for research into broader historical issues such as migration, industrial change and economic history.

Local history

Directories provide a window on the past. They enable you to build up a colourful picture of life in your town, or even your house, during a particular year. You may well discover streets and trades that no longer exist, or unearth information about previous residents.

Local information in directories

Despite the various formats of historical directories, local information within them often follows a similar structure. Below is a summary of the different types of information available.

General description

Chapters giving a general description of a county, town or parish may include:

• the history or topography of given location
• details about local government, justice and Poor Law administration
• transport information
• advertisements
• lists of the clergy of all denominations
• street plans and maps.

The Historical Directories web site publishes maps whenever possible. However, it omits large, torn and discoloured maps, which are unsuitable for scanning.

Broader historical issues

Directories provide a consistent pattern of data during a period of major industrial and social change. In Britain they were largely influenced by commercial needs. Read Background to find out more about the origins of historical directories.

Economic history

Directories are also a major source for research into economic activities such as manufacturing and retailing. They provide data about:

• the expansion or decline of individual firms and particular areas
• types of business, locations and ownership patterns
• commercial relationships between local communities
• occupations that have since disappeared or changed beyond all recognition:
  • clogger, silk mercer, bell hanger, brass worker, lamp lighter.

Migration

Directories offer the opportunity to research aspects of social mobility, such as:

• the fashionable status of certain areas in cities or towns
• immigrant communities in the nineteenth century. You may come across distinctive family surnames in a given location, for example, indicative of ethnic origin.

The landed estates

Look out for references to the local gentry and aristocracy. These appear consistently in directories alongside details about ownership of land and the important members of estate staff.

Local administration

Directories are a good guide to the work of many local authorities and organisations:

• cooperative societies
• societies for the prosecution of felons
• petty sessional divisions
• district councils
• schools
• friendly societies and charities.

Information about such organisations may appear in:

• entries for individual towns and parishes
• general description of a county or district at the beginning of a directory
• entries for the hundreds or wapentakes in earlier directories.

The GENUKI web site explains terms and definitions associated with local administration, including hundreds and wapentakes.

Find out more

See our links to other local history web sites.

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