Description:Trade Directories started to flourish around the beginning of the nineteenth century. They were originally aimed at the commercial traveller and included descriptions of an area along with a list of the local gentry and some of its trades people. As time went on they expanded in coverage, including more trades people and sections for private residents and streets. Coverage remained far from complete however and the usual "missing" were the working classes.
This directory from 1818 covers all of Staffordshire. The section on Handsworth is included here in full along with the neighbouring area of Perry Barr. It is an interesting list as at this time many of Handsworth's famous names are included such as John Gough, Matthew Boulton, James Watt and William Murdock.
A transcription of the Handsworth/ Perry Barr pages is available as a downloadable file.