Trade directories

What are they?

An alphabetical list of the tradespeople in towns and villages throughout Nottinghamshire from the early 1800s to the 1940s. They weren't issued every year, but were published more frequently than the Census. Both Nottinghamshire Archives and some libraries hold trade directories. Some directories have been digitised and are also online - visit www.historicaldirectories.org for more information.

Use them to:

• locate someone and then confirm their details using the census
• plug gaps in time when no census is available
• broaden your knowledge about your ancestors - they give background information about the community and the area they lived in.