Kelly's Directories

The Kelly's range of street directories are of use to both local history enthusiasts as well as genealogists. There were a number of editions published, this page provides a list of known editions, together with links to the directories held by the Library, and those held at the museum local studies room.

Kelly's Directories (formally known as the Kelly's, Post Office and Harrod & Co Directory) were trade directories, listing all businesses and tradespeople in a particular city or town, as well as a more general directory of postal addresses of local gentry, landowners, charities, and other facilities. Publication of them started in around 1836 when Frederick Kelly, a chief inspector of letter carriers, commenced producing directories. The first directories were of London being based upon the Post Office London Directory, gradually expanding to cover the whole UK. It was phased out by the late 1990s when internet usage became more prevalent, although there was a short lived online version which continued for a few years under the branding 'Kellysearch'.

Year	Library?	Lib. Ref. No.	Museum?	Mus. Ref. No	This Wiki?
1897	Yes		Unknown		No
1898	Yes		Unknown		No
1913-1914	Yes		Unknown		No
1921	Yes		Unknown		No
1928	Yes		Unknown		No
1929	Yes		Unknown		No
1930	Yes		Unknown		No
1932	Yes		Unknown		No
1933	Yes		Unknown		No
1934	Yes		Unknown		No
1936	Yes		Unknown		No
1938	Yes		Unknown		No
1939	Yes		Unknown		No
1940	Yes		Unknown		No
1948	Yes		Unknown		No
1950	Yes		Unknown		No
1956	Yes		Unknown		No
1958	Yes		Unknown		No
1960	Yes		Unknown		No
1962	Yes		Unknown		No
1964	Yes		Unknown		No
1966	Yes		Unknown		No
1968	Yes		Unknown		No
1969	Yes		Unknown		Yes
1970	Yes		Unknown		No
1971	Yes		Unknown		No
1972	Yes		Unknown		No
1973	Yes		Unknown		No
1974	Yes		Unknown		No