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Trade Directories

Resource verified by SHCG editorial group

Notes:

Useful website for those investigating the history of manufacturers or businesses.  This website, from the University of Leicester gives online access to commercial and trade directories.

Trade directories are a vital source for the study of local and family history. This collection contains all 675 directories for England and Wales originally digitised under a Lottery funded project run by the University of Leicester. The aim of this project was to make available one directory for each English and Welsh county for the 1850s, 1890s and 1910s. In addition, a sample of directories was made available for the period 1750-1849, and for the 1860s, 1870s, 1880s and 1900s. In Britain the first recognisable directories emerged during the late seventeenth century, meeting a growing demand for accurate information about trade and industry. The content of the directories varies, but typically they contain:
•descriptions of cities, parishes, towns and villages. These may include geographical, historical and statistical details
•information about local facilities, institutions and associations
•listings for private residents, traders, trades and professions
•details of important people
•advertisements

SHIC codes:

,4

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