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<br>The publication of directories, originally alphabetical lists of the names and addresses of tradesmen, was very much a consequence of the growth of permanent shopping and trading centres in the 18th century. Towns that had an overseas trade were the first to have them: London from 1734, Dublin from 1751 and other places from the 1760s and 1770s. The first directory covering a group of towns ('a national directory') appeared in 1781, the first for a whole county, including farmers and craftsmen, in 1784, and the first to include private residents in 1792. English directories rarely include more than the name of the head of the household; other family members are not mentioned. | <br>The publication of directories, originally alphabetical lists of the names and addresses of tradesmen, was very much a consequence of the growth of permanent shopping and trading centres in the 18th century. Towns that had an overseas trade were the first to have them: London from 1734, Dublin from 1751 and other places from the 1760s and 1770s. The first directory covering a group of towns ('a national directory') appeared in 1781, the first for a whole county, including farmers and craftsmen, in 1784, and the first to include private residents in 1792. English directories rarely include more than the name of the head of the household; other family members are not mentioned. | ||
=== '''[[Image:Abbots Bridge Suffolk.jpg|thumb|right| | === '''[[Image:Abbots Bridge Suffolk.jpg|thumb|right|200x200px]]Types of Directories''' === | ||
There are various types of directories: | There are various types of directories: | ||
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6. In the Post Office London directories between 1842 and 1940 there is an <u>Official Directory</u> (described below). In London and other town directories there may well be a <u>Law Directory</u> with the names of solicitors, attorneys, barristers, judges, etc., as well as a <u>Parliamentary Directory</u>, <u>Postal Directory</u> and <u>Banking Directory</u>. | 6. In the Post Office London directories between 1842 and 1940 there is an <u>Official Directory</u> (described below). In London and other town directories there may well be a <u>Law Directory</u> with the names of solicitors, attorneys, barristers, judges, etc., as well as a <u>Parliamentary Directory</u>, <u>Postal Directory</u> and <u>Banking Directory</u>. | ||
7. By the 1850s a town directory may be expected to contain alphabetical, classified and street lists. By this date also the county directories have alphabetical lists for villages and alphabetical and classified lists for the larger places, with street directories for the largest towns, all followed by consolidated lists of private residents and by trade. | 7. By the 1850s a town directory may be expected to contain alphabetical, classified and street lists. By this date also the county directories have alphabetical lists for villages and alphabetical and classified lists for the larger places, with street directories for the largest towns, all followed by consolidated lists of private residents and by trade. | ||
=== '''Uses of Directories''' === | === '''Uses of Directories''' === | ||