Kellys Directory
Kelly’s Directory was a long-running series of British trade and postal directories, often described as the “Victorian Yellow Pages”. First developed from the Post Office London Directory, the volumes became an essential source of information for businesses, travellers, and local communities across Britain. Each edition combined brief descriptions of towns and villages with listings of residents, tradespeople, and public institutions.
For historians and genealogists, these directories now provide a fascinating record of social and economic life. They reveal how communities evolved, through the growth of trades, shifts in landownership and the emergence of new services. The University of Leicester’s digital collection of trade directories offers further insight into this remarkable publishing series.
The transcribed Kelly’s Directory entries for Market Lavington and Easterton capture a detailed picture of village life recording residents, trades as they were known in James Lye’s day. His name appears among those listed, reflecting his continued prominence within the local community.