This page explains the importance of topographical sketches for historical research. Many of the sketches can be found in the directory pre-ambles.
From the late eighteenth century most directories include sections on local history and topography. Usually located at the beginning of the directory, or before the listings for each town or parish, they provide the reader with a short potted history of an area.
Directory compilers regularly updated their topography sections as new editions were produced. This suggests they expected many readers to be unfamiliar with such background information. We know that there was an increase in personal mobility during the period, particularly within the business community. It would certainly appear that most directories were designed to appeal to visitors and visiting tradesmen as well as resident tradesmen.
The prominence given to topographical sketches increased over the course of the nineteenth century. Many firms commissioned well known authors to write pieces in a more literary style, thus appealing to the leisure traveller.
For instance Mannex & Co's History, Topography and Directory of Westmorland, 1851 contains a detailed study of the geology of the Lake District written by John Rooke, Esq. complete with notes for tourists.
View this extract on the Historical Directories web site.
Most directory pre-ambles contain similar sorts of topographical information. The precise format does differ, however, according to the type of directory and when it was published.
Generally, town directories provide more detailed descriptions of particular places, whereas their national and provincial counterparts have shorter and rather formulaic summaries.
The categories below indicate the sorts of information likely to be found in a typical directory entry for a town or parish.
Background topography
This often includes information about the location, the boundaries of the parish or township, its physical geography, geology and population statistics.
Look in any of the directories under the key name of Kelly for examples on this web site.
To give one specific example:
Potted history of the area
The potted history generally charts the evolution of an area from prehistory to the recent past. Usually the focus here is on major historical events such as battles, fires or riots, and important personalities in the neighbourhood.
Many directory compilers give particular prominence to lines of manorial descent, and the history of important landowning families in the vicinity.
Most directories also include an extended history of the parish church and its ministers, architecture, and monumental inscriptions.
For an example:
Description of a district, its economy and administration
This is perhaps the most valuable aspect of the topographical sketch and may include information about the street layout, public buildings, urban improvement and local administrative structures.
Such descriptions often identify the key industries and trades within a district. In this context, the author generally seeks to describe the town or parish in glowing terms, comparing it favourably with earlier years. This means that you are likely to find information about:
For an example see the following:
Short biographies of leading citizens
These are frequently included to add colour, providing visitors with information about local notables. Most of the individuals are noted due to some form of contribution they have made, whether through benevolence, public service or notoriety.
In the following example you can find out about Robert Smyth's importance in Market Harborough:
Notes on charities and other public bodies
Towards the end of the topographical account there is often a list of charitable bodies and institutions such as infirmaries, lying-in hospitals and mechanics’ institutions.
Descriptions of neighbouring villages, townships and hamlets
The pre-ambles in many directories contain information not only about towns but also their surroundings. Although descriptions are shorter, they often follow a similar format to that for the town with information about geography, key industries, institutions and important landowners.
By providing a snapshot of life in particular places at a particular time, topographical sketches can help contextualise evidence obtained from the listings of inhabitants. At the same time such sketches give us a sense of a town or parish’s history. They also reveal which aspects of this history were perceived as important by contemporaries.
You will come across a limited number of digitised maps on this web site in addition to the topographical sketches. Some original directories contained large, fragile and folded maps. We have omitted most of these during the digitisation process, as they were unsuitable for scanning. We have included smaller maps and town plans where possible.