Pigot's Directories online

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More Trade Records added. Click here for more information.

Search for those long forgotten trades from Cowkeepers to Woolstaplers.

The collection is fully searchable and can be searched by name or occupation or each county may be easily browsed by page. This is a useful resource for anyone wanting to know more about the area where their ancestors lived and worked and is available to members with a subscription. (See table for counties available).

An extract from the Warwickshire Directory 1835

Birmingham, one of the most celebrated manufacturing towns in the United Kingdom. The earliest authentic notice of this place occurs in Domesday-book, in which it is called Bermengeham...

Birmingham is not attractive for venerable ruins or grand cathedrals; but the traveller who delights in seeing the human race profitably employed, to their own and their country's advantage, will disregard the smoke which sometimes envelopes the town.

Soon after the revolution in 1688 the manufacture of fire-arms was introduced and continued to flourish until the close of the late war, the government contracts for muskets alone generally averaged 30,000 thousand per month... the gun makers were authorised to erect a proof-house, in which under a heavy penalty all gun and pistol barrels are subjected to a powerful proof.

Prior to the year 1715 Birmingham comprised only one parish and for civil registration purposes it is still so considered but at that period a portion of the original parish of St. Martin, consisting of a district in the centre of town, was formed into the parish of St. Philip and in 1829 two other districts were formed into the parishes of St. George and St. Thomas.

Birmingham which must be taken to include the parishes of Aston and Edgbaston, contained 73,670 inhabitants and in 1831, 146,986.

A typical entry then lists the following;

British Wine Makers

Hill, Evans & Williams, 7 Foregate St.
Williams James, North parade

Brush Makers & Dealers

Malvern John (dealer) College St.
Martin Benjamin (dealer) Sidbury
Pemberton Isaac, 15 Broad St
Smith John, 41 High St.

TRADES

Search for the following trades and occupations

1800's Directories include the following information

Trades & Professional Directory
Nobility, gentry and clergy
Academies & Schools
Agricultural implement maker
Artists
Attorneys
Auctioneers & Appraisers
Bakers
Bankers
Basket & Sieve Makers
Blacksmiths
Bookseller, Stationer, Bookbinder, printer and paper hanger
Boot & Shoe makers
Brewers
Brick & Tile makers
Bricklayers, slaters & Plasterers
Brush makers
Builders
Butchers
Cabinet makers & Upholsterers
Carvers & Gilders
Cattle dealers & Graziers
China & Glass Dealers
Chemists & Druggists
Clothes Dealers
Confectioners
Coopers
Corn Merchants
Corn Millers
Curriers & Leather cutters
Fancy Bazaar
Fellmongers
Fire & Office Agents
Fishmongers
Furniture Brokers
Game Dealers
Grocers & Tea Dealers
Grocers
Hairdressers & Perfumers
Hatters
Inns & Hotels
Iron & Brass Founders
Iron Merchant
Ironmongers
Joiners & Carpenters
Lace Manufacturers & Dealers
Library
Lime Burners
Linen & Woollen Drapers & Silk Mercers
Maltsters
Millers
Milliners & Dress makers
Music Sellers
Nursery & Seedsmen
Paper hangers
Physicians
Pipe makers - Tobacco
Plumbers, Painters & Glaziers
Professors & Teachers of Music
Registrars & Deputies of Births & Deaths
Rope & Twine makers
Saddlers & Harness makers
Shopkeepers & Dealers in Groceries & Sundries
Silversmiths & Jewellers
Stay Makers
Stone & Marble Mason
Stone Merchants
Straw Hat makers
Surgeons
Tailors
Tallow Chandlers
Taverns & Public Houses
Retailers of Beer
Tea Dealers
Timber Merchants
Toy Dealers
Turners
Watch & Clock Hand Makers
Watch & Clock Makers
Wheelwrights
Whitesmiths & Bell hangers
Wine & Spirit Merchants
Woolstaplers
Miscellaneous
Farmer & Grazier
Bailiff
Millwright
Brazier & Tin plate worker
Lace dealer
Rope makers
Vet surgeon
Registrars of Births, Deaths
Savings Bank
Whitesmith
Plasterer
Breeches maker
Union Workhouse
Basket & Sieve maker
Coaches Timetable
Carriers Timetable

The larger towns and manufacturing cities like Birmingham will also include the following trades;
Curry-comb makers
Cut glass manufacturers
Cutlers
Dentists
Diamond and Precious Stone dealers
Die Forgers
Die Sinkers
Die Turner
Dog collar Makers
Dress Makers
Drysalters
Dyers
Earthenware dealers
Eating-house Keepers
Embossers
Emery, Glass & Sand Paper makers
Engine Turners
Engineers
Engravers & Copperplate Printers
Engravers & Letter Cutters
Engravers - seal
Factors
Feather Merchants
Fender Makers
Fetter Makers
File Makers
Filligree Workers
Fire Irons and Fire Brasses
Fire-Work Makers
Fish Hook Makers
Fishing Tackle, Rod Makers
Flour Dealers
French Platers
Fringe, Lace Manufacturers
Fruiterers
Frying Pan Makers
Furriers
Gambadge Manufacturers
Gardeners & Seedsmen
Gas Apparatus Manufacturers
Gilders
Gilt Toy Makers
Gun Makers
Gun & Sportsman's Implement Manufacturers
Gun Barrel Filers and Smoothers
Gun Barrel Makers
Gun Barrel Ribbers
Gun Breech Forgers
Gun Engravers
Gun Finishers
Gun Flint Dealers
Gun Furniture Polishers
Gun Lock & Furniture Forgers & Filers
Gun Stock Makers
Gun Stockers
Gunpowder Flask & Shot Charger Manufacturers
Haberdashers & Dealers in Smallwares
Hair Seating Manufacturers
Hame & Chain Makers
Hammer Makers
Hardwaremen & Dealers in Jewellery & Fancy Goods
Hat manufacturers & Dealers
Hay, Straw & Horse Corn Dealers
Hide & Leather Factors
Hinge makers
Hook & Eye Makers
Hop Merchants
Hosiers
Hot-house & Horticultural Building Constructors - Metallic & Copper sash Manufacturers
Inkstand Makers
Irish Linen Importers
Iron & Steel Merchants
Iron Founders
Iron Manufacturers of Sundry Articles
Iron Plate Workers
Italian Iron Makers
Ivory & Bone Toy Manufacturers
Ivory & Hard Wood Dealers
Jack Makers
Japaned leather Manufacturers
Japanners
Jewellers - Manufacturers
Jewellery Case Makers
Jewellery Stampers
Lamp & Lantern Manufacturers
Land Agents
Lapidaries
Last & Boot Tree Makers
Latch Makers
Lathe, Stamp, Press & Die manufacturers
Law Stationers
Lead & Glass Merchants
Leather Cutters & Grindery Warehouses
Leather Dressers
List Shoe makers
Livery Stable keepers
Lock Manufacturers
Locksmiths & Bell hangers
Looking Glass manufacturers
Machine makers
Machine Rulers
Malt-mill Makers
Mangle Makers
Marine Assurance Company
Mathematical Instrument makers
Medallists & Manufacturers of medals
Merchants
Metal Dealers
Metal Rollers
Military ornament Manufacturers
Mill makers
Milliners
Millwrights
Miniature Frame makers
Modellers
Mould makers
Mouse Trap maker
Music & Musical Instrument Sellers
Nail manufacturers & Wholesale dealers
Picture Frame makers
Pill, Jewellers & Paper box makers
Pin Makers
Pistol makers
Plane makers
Plaster of Paris Manufacturers
Plated metal manufacturers
Platers & Manufacturers of Plated articles of steel
Platers - French
Pocket Book Makers
Portable Desk Makers
Porter Merchants
Poulterers
Printers' Ink Merchants
Printers - Letters press
Printers - Lithographic
Provision Dealers
Pump Makers
Quill & Pen Dressers
Rag dealers
Refiners & Smelters
Ring Makers
Roman cement makers & Dealers
Rule Makers
Saddle-tree makers
Saddlers' Iron mongers
Sand Paper Makers
Saw Makers
Saw Mills
Scale Beam Makers
Screw Makers
Shoe-heel tip Makers
Shoe-latch makers
Snuffer Makers
Soap Boilers
Solder makers
Spade & shovel Manufacturers
Spectacle case makers
Spectacle makers
Spring Makers
Spur Makers
Stampers & Piercers
Starch Manufacturers
Stationers
Steam Engine Makers & Engineers
Steel Dealers
Steel Pen Manufacturers
Steel Toy Manufacturers
Steel Trap Makers
Stirrup & Bit Makers
Stove Grate Manufacturers
Straw & Leghorn hat makers & dealers
Surveyors - Land
Sword Cutlers
Sword Hilt makers
Sword Scabbard Makers
Tailors
Tanners
Tarpaulin makers
Tea & Coffee Dealers
Tea & Coffee Pot Handle Makers
Tea Urn Makers
Thimble makers
Tinners
Tobacco Box makers
Tobacco Pipe makers
Tobacconists & Snuff Dealers
Tool Brokers
Tool Chest makers
Tool Makers
Tortoise & Turtle Shell, Ivory, box case & caddy makers
Toy Makers
Trunk Makers
Truss Makers
Tube Makers - Brass & Copper
Turners in Wood
Turners in Ivory & Bone
Umbrella & Parasol Furniture Manufacturers
Umbrella & Parasol Makers
Umbrella Stick Makers
Upholsterers
Varnish Makers
Vice Makers
Watch Chain Guard and fancy Chain Makers
Watch Glass Makers
Watch Pendent Makers
Water Gilders
Weavers' Mail Makers
Weighing Machine Makers
Weight makers - Foreign and English
Wharfingers
Whip-cord makers
Whip-mount makers
Whip-thong makers
Window Blind Manufacturers
Window Glass cutters & dealers
Wire manufacturers & drawers
Wire Workers
Wood screw makers
Wood turners
Woollen Drapers
Worsted Manufacturers & Dealers

As well as
Public Buildings, Offices, Institutions & c.