The 600+ directories include the names of businesses both small and large, and also individuals, their occupations - such as gardeners, blacksmiths, seamstresses, dress makers, chimney sweeps and teachers - and in some instances even their address. Also described are amenities including schools, churches, hospitals and workhouses, all of which enable family history enthusiasts the chance to discover where their ancestors’ school may have been, the church to which they belonged… and even where they had their shoes mended. Also available is information about each UK county and their cities, towns and villages, including geographical descriptions, their industry, transport and even agricultural and geological characteristics, making them a vital tool for anyone wanting to add depth to their family history research.
John Boot
He can be found in Whites’ 1853 Directory of Nottinghamshire, listed as a Medical Botanist at 6 Goosegate, Nottingham. He opened a herbalist shop in Nottingham in 1849, and his son, Jesse Boot, left school at 13 years old and helped his mother run the business going on to transform the shop into Boots the Chemists, the renowned national retailer that we know today.