Also known as 'Town or County Directories' or as 'Post Office Directories'. Can also be referred to by the name of the commercial body responsible for the publication of the directory, such as 'Kelly's', 'Baines's', 'White's' or 'Pigot's', etc

Most of these local directories contain a brief description of each town or village including:-

• population statistics
• details of postal services
• passenger transport facilities
• cultural institutions such as schools, chapels, churches, clubs and societies
• details of local newspapers
• telegraph and telephone facilities (for later dates) 

Prominent individuals in a town were also listed such as:-

• clergy
• landowners
• farmers
• gentry and their widows
• 'professional' people (eg: school masters and business people of all types from shop keepers to manufacturers and providers of services)

Labourers and employees, the shop assistants and clerks were not included.  

Please note: Trade directories are not always totally accurate. They can contain spelling and other errors and are not necessarily complete - some individuals may have refused to let their details be included, whilst others were not invited to subscribe.  

For your convenience, the entries relating to most communities within Wakefield have been assembled into 'compound packs'. Each pack covers one or more places (eg Crofton, Featherstone). These packs are photocopiable. 

Please note: Original directories in this department may NOT be photocopied.

The following directories are available in the Local Studies Library for reference:-