Trade Directories

Trade Directories

There were several firms who published trade directories for business and Post Office use. These eventually developed into our modern telephone directories.

Arranged by county, sometimes with more than one county to a volume, they generally gave a short description of the place, details of the basic services available, then the names of the prominent private residents, followed by the commercial businesses. Some businesses also took out an advert, which were usually separate at the rear of the book. Kellys Directory is the best known; the editions are sporadic, but seem to settle into every three to four years by the end of the 19th century.

Woburn Sands can sometimes be found under Wavendon in early editions and once separate, it moves between Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire! The earliest I have found specifically for Woburn Sands is 1847 and the latest 1939. Originals can be found in larger libraries and county archives.

Please Note: Wherever possible, all names have been altered to “FIRSTNAME SURNAME” rather than “SURNAME, FIRSTNAME” to make searching the text easier.

The entries can be seen by clicking the links below:

 

Page last updated Aug. 2021.