Available Isle of Wight directories
I've transcribed a number of historical directories for the Isle of Wight, these are offered here, either as pdf docments or as searchable databases.
PDF Format:
Originally part of Hampshire & Isle of Wight directories which only had limited information. These two early directories are just the Isle of Wight entries and are presented here as transcriptions in pdf format;:
- Transcript of Isle of Wight section of Sadler's 1784 Hampshire directory.
- Transcript of Isle of Wight section of Pigot's 1828 Hampshire directory.
Searchable by name and town:
These later directories present private and commercial entries alphabetically under individual towns. They don't pretend to represent all those living an area, possibly just the 'better off' and those with business interests:
- Pigot's Isle of Wight - 1844 (very limited)
- White's Isle of Wight - 1859
- Kelly's Isle of Wight - 1898
- Kelly's Isle of Wight - 1911
- Kelly's Isle of Wight - 1927
- Kelly's Isle of Wight - 1935
Searchable by name and town - entries of individual streets in the main towns
- All the Kelly's, Isle of Wight 1904 directories
- All the Kelly's, Isle of Wight 1935 directories
- All the Kelly's, Isle of Wight 1951 directories
Newport street directories are available elsewhere on the web:
Another directory
The 1951 Kelly's directories were the last street directories issued. This transcription of the 1960 Post Office Telephone Directory offers a little later information. But it obviously only includes those people/businesses with telephones. Another problem is that the Telephone Exchanges didn't necessarily reflect the town or village of the subscriber (ie Newport exchange also covered Carisbrooke). I've tried to identify the geographic location for each entry, but that's not guaranteed:
Over the years street names changes, this pdf offers a selection of such changes I've come across:
Island road name changes and ‘odd’ notes’ (pdf)