Directories are an invaluable primary source for historians. They provide first hand data about local communities, their infrastructure and the individuals inhabiting those communities. Published more frequently than the census, directories can also help you fill in any missing gaps.
There are descriptions of cities, parishes, towns and villages including geographical, historical and statistical details; information about local facilities, institutions and associations; listings for private residents, traders, trades and professions; details of important people; and advertisements
Directories emerged during the late seventeenth century to meet a growing demand for accurate information about trade and industry with the expansion of commerce during the period.
Some obtained information by personal canvassing and combined the results with existing listings. Other publishers simply asked people to send in their names together with a small payment if they wanted to be included in the directory.
The peak year for directory publications was 1936, with around 320 directories appearing. During World War II, however, the publication of directories declined sharply to less than 100 per year. Despite a slight recovery after 1945, they never again approached pre-war levels. Many of the publishers had gone out of business during the war years. After World War II trade directories also faced growing competition from telephone directories, particularly for business and commercial use. The 1950s, in many ways, marked the end of large-scale directory production and usage.
We have sorted the Directories for the parishes in
Cumberland: Millom Above, Millom Below, Thwaites and Ulpha
Furness: Broughton in Furness, Kirkby in Furness and Seathwaite