Kelly's Directories (Victorian Yellow Pages)
Kelly’s, Post Office and Harrod & Co Directory could be regarded as a Victorian version of today’s Yellow Pages.
The origins of Kelly’s, as it was usually known, can be traced to 1799 when Frederick Festus Kelly - His Majesty’s Inspector of Inland Letter Carriers - created the Post Office London Directory. In 1802, Kelly & Co Ltd was launched and later in the 19th century Frederick Kelly gradually built upon his original publication, producing directories for an increasing number of UK counties.
The directories listed businesses, tradespeople, local gentry, landowners, charities and other facilities located in a particular village or town.
Many reference libraries still keep their copies of these directories, which are now an important source for historical research. In 1897 it became known as Kelly’s Directories Ltd, and this name survived for 106 years until it was renamed Kellysearch in 2003.The information we have shown was obtained from the Somerset Heritage Centre Taunton.
These galleries contain entries for Seavington St. Michael for a number of years between 1861 & 1935.
Seavington St. Mary will be coming soon.