Trade Directories

Another useful source that lists individuals and where they lived are trade directories. These mainly list commercial individuals and, as people had to pay to be listed, they are far from comprehensive. However they can predate the first useful census returns of 1841, and, as the 19th century progressed they expanded and include lots of useful information about the places they cover - short histories, details of schools, hospitals, local officials, etc. Trade directories are also useful as they postdate the 1891 census and continued to be produced well into the 20th century.

Click on the image to enlarge.

Wolverhampton Archives and Local Studies has a collection of local trade directories from 1770 right up to the present day.

To see a full list click here.