Trades Directories
In the days before telephones were generally subscribed to, tradesmen and gentry were listed in 'trades directories' in much the same manner as the 'Yellow Pages' lists names today. Labourers, the retired and the unemployed were generally not listed. The directories covered limited geographical areas normally composing one or a small groups of counties, or major industrial cities.
Original or copied trades directories are often available at local records offices and libraries. An increasing number are available on CD-ROM and, for relatively limited geographical areas, via Internet.
Trades directories are useful in finding addresses and occupations for ancestors or relatives who were practicing recognised trades eg. butchers, victuallers, pawnbrokers, grocers. From the addresses given it is often possible to locate entries in the census returns or identify churches where children are being baptised.
