Melksham Directories
Even though Britain was granted permission to have registry offices as early as 1611, it wasn’t until after 1751 with the success of Fielding’s Universal Register Office that the link between registry offices and the publication of directories seemed strongest.
Kelly saw the advantage of the directories and used letter carriers to compile this information. These carriers circulated forms headed with “Post Office Directory” on their respective postal rounds, information which was being officially collected by the Post Office. Kelly printed these compilations under the heading of Post Office Directory and the letter carriers received a commission for the number of volumes they sold.
The printing industry saw an advantage of selling these directories and competition soon formed. Many claimed Kellys was charging too much, and that they had an unfair advantage by using Post Office employees.
Pigot issued directories in a series of regional surveys every six or seven years. The first was between 1820 and 1826, the second from 1826 to 1830, the third between 1831 and 1840, and the final one, 1848 to 1853. The firm was finally taken over by Kellys, although Pigots name was retained until 1882.
In 1843, Robsons directories were discontinued because of competition from Kellys. Such difficulties had driven Robson to the workhouse, and ultimately to insanity, by the unfair advantages which had been given by the Post office authorities to another publication.
This lack of competition led also, it was claimed, to an inaccurate directory which contained no less than 16,000 blunders. The wranglings dragged on for a number of years with the issue being raised in the House of Commons, until finally Kelly was forced to curtail his use of Post Office employees. He did, however, retain the title of Post Office Directory.
| 1830 Pigot Directory |
Pigot and Co National and Commercial Directory pages 808-809 .pdf download is 5.3 MB and contains 2 pages |
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| 1839 Robson Directory |
Robson Directory of Wiltshire pages 76-80 .pdf download is 17.8 MB and contains 5 pages |
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| 1844 Pigot Directory |
Pigot and Co National and Commercial Directory pages 25-27 .pdf download is 590 KB and contains 3 pages |
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| 1852-3 Slaters Directory |
Slaters National and Commercial Directory pages 32-34 .pdf download is 339 KB and contains 3 pages |
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| 1855 Post Office |
Post Office Directory of Wiltshire pages 83-85 .pdf download is 381 KB and contains 3 pages |
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| 1859 Post Office |
Post Office Directory of Wiltshire pages 453-456 .pdf download is 595 KB and contains 4 pages |
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| 1865 Post Office |
J G Harrod and Co Potal Directory pages 417-423 .pdf download is 1.4 MB and contains 7 pages |
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| 1867 Post Office |
Post Office Directory of Wiltshire pages 307-311 .pdf download is 673 KB and contains 5 pages |
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| 1875 Post Office |
Post Office Directory of Wiltshire pages 590-594 .pdf download is 32.8 MB and contains 5 pages |
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| 1889 Kellys Directory |
Kellys directory of Wiltshire page 960-964 .pdf download is 707 KB and contains 5 pages |
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| 1895 Kellys Directory |
Kellys directory of Wiltshire page 149-154 .pdf download is 837 KB and contains 6 pages |
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| 1898 Kellys Directory |
Kellys directory of Wiltshire page 147-152 .pdf download is 805 KB and contains 6 pages |
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| c 1900 Court Directory |
Kellys Wiltshire Court Directory pages 272-292 (actual date not found) .pdf download is 24.9 MB and contains 19 pages |
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| 1903 Kellys Directory |
Kellys directory of Wiltshire page 150-155 .pdf download is 883 KB and contains 6 pages |
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| 1907 Kellys Directory |
Kellys directory of Wiltshire page 153-158 .pdf download is 639 KB and contains 6 pages |
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| 1911 Kellys Directory |
Kellys directory of Wiltshire page 157-162 .pdf download is 805 KB and contains 6 pages |
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| 1915 Kellys directory |
Kellys directory of Wiltshire page 157-162 .pdf download is 821 KB and contains 6 pages |
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| 1927 Kellys Directory |
Kellys directory of Wiltshire page 167-172 .pdf download is 1.9 MB and contains 6 pages |
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| 1931 Kellys Directory |
Kellys Directory of Wiltshire pages 159-164 .pdf download is 1.2 MB and contains 6 pages |
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| 1939 Kellys Directory |
Kellys directory of Wiltshire page 160-164 .pdf download is 5.2 MB and contains 5 pages |
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