Trade directories and family history research
The earliest British trade directory was a list of London merchants published in 1677. The next London directory appeared in 1734, and thereafter at least one directory of London has been published in each year to the present day, although some no longer exist. Directories for areas outside London did not appear until the end of the 17th century.
From 1800 onwards the Post Office London directories were issued, but there were several companies which produced excellent guides, historical, statistical and topographical. Among the most informative are those by William White, Kelly & Co.,and Pigot & Co.
For genealogists, trade directories can be useful in tracing the business interests and premises of a family, and establishing when a son took over from his father, for example. In later years a "private residents" section was included within trade directories, of the more prominent local residents.
As well as showing where and when our ancestors' businesses were operating, they also provide a contemporary description of a town or parish, often including information on the local economy, places of worship, transport links and schools. As such they can invaluable to the genealogist when completing family history research.
