Trade and other Directories in England

Covering the period around 1850

Compiled by Ron Spiers

Three of the main Directories which cover many parts of England over a long period are, the Post-Office Directory, Kelly’s Directory, and Pigot & Co.’s Directory, but there are hundreds of others, maybe over 200 publishers for London alone. When reading them one has to be aware of some of the terms used for places. Old documents refer to Hundreds; these are sub-divisions of English Counties, and date from pre-Norman Conquest times, that is, before the year 1066. The boundary of a Hundred will contain of a number of adjoining church parishes. In the north of England a Hundred was called a Wapentake. They are not terms in current usage, but old documents may refer to them, for example see the 1850 Warwickshire Gazeteer, and White’s 1854 Directory for Halifax. In addition, Counties were divided up into Townships, which contained many houses, and Hamlets which contained very few.

Knowledge of where persons lived in the 1850’s may help in tracing their families in the relevant 1851 census. The author has some information on many of the families listed below.

Slater’s General and Classified Directory of Birmingham and its vicinities, 1822

Charles Spiers, grocer, 60 Aston Street.

Morris Spiers, watch and clockmaker, 110 Snowshill.

Nathan Cohen Spiers, pawnbroker, 40 Anne Street.

Solomon Cohen Spiers, watchmaker, 99a, New Street.

William Spiers, shoe maker, 15 Brearley Street West.

William Spiers, grocer, 60 Aston Street.

The History, Topography and Directory of Warwickshire, 1830

Nerwich & Spiers, jewellers and gilt toy manufacturers, 46 Worcester Street, Birmingham.

Adam W. Spiers, American merchant, 83 Great Charles Street, Birmingham.

John Spiers, straw chip and Leghorn hat maker, 63 Dale End, Birmingham.

Sarah Spiers, dressmaker, Deritend, Birmingham.

William Spiers, haberdasher &c., 238 Bristol Street, Birmingham.

Mr Clifford Spiers, Rhyn.

Pigot’s National and Commercial Directory of Derbyshire, Dorset, Gloucestersire, Herefordshire, Oxfordshire, Shropshire, Somerset, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire, 1750 - 1850

Gloucestershire

William Spiers, retailer of beer, Suffolk Road, Cheltenham.

Oxfordshire

Edward Spiers, carpenter and joiner, Crouch Street, Oxford.

William Spiers, parish clerk and shopkeeper, Deddington, Oxford.

Edwin Thomas Spiers, bookbinder, bookseller and library at Bear Lane, and toy dealer at 8 Cornmarket Street, Oxford.

William Spiers, haberdasher, 13 Queen Street, Oxford.

Birmingham, Warwickshire

Maurice Spiers, watchmaker, 46 Worcester Street.

Nathan Cohen Spiers, jeweller and gilt toy manufacturer, 46 Worcester Street.

William Spiers, grocer and tea dealer, 60 Aston Street.

Kenilworth, Warwickshire

William Spiers, grocery shopkeeper, New Street.

Evesham, Worcestershire

Joseph Spiers, conveyancer by water from Evesham to Worcester, Bewdley Street

Pigot and Co’s Royal National and Commercial Directory and Topography of the Counties of York, Leicester & Rutland, Lincoln, Northampton and Nottingham, 1841

Hinckley, Leicester

Thomas Spiers, manufacturer of hosiery, Castle Street.

Pigot’s Directory of Northamptonshire, 1841

Joseph Spiers, wharfinger to the Oxford Canal Company, Braunston, Daventry.

Pigot & Co’s Royal National and Commercial Directory and Topography of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Herefordshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Wiltshire, Wales, 1844

William Spiers, wheelwright and chaise cart maker, Boar Street, Abingdon, Berkshire.

Henry Spiers, fellmonger and tanner, Alresford, Hampshire.

Edward Spiers, carpenter and joiner, Crouch Street, Banbury, Oxfordshire.

William Spiers, parish clerk, Deddington, Oxford.

Edwin Thomas Spiers, bookseller, bookbinder, circulating library, stationers, Bear Lane, Oxford.

William Spiers, linen draper, haberdasher, 13 Queen Street, Oxford.

Edwin Thomas Spiers, toy dealer, 8 Corn Market Street, Oxford.

Slater's Directory of the Following Important English towns; Birmingham, Bristol, Derby, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield and West Bromwich, 1847

William Spiers, boot and shoe maker, 152 Hockley Hill, Birmingham.

Nathan Cohen Spiers, pawnbroker, 40 Ann Street, Birmingham.

Maurice Spiers, watch and clock maker, 110 Snowshill.

John Spiers, boot and shoe maker, 24 Great Duce Street, Strangeways, Manchester.

Slater’s Glasgow Directory

Aitken & Spiers, ship and insurance brokers, 97 Union Street, Glasgow.

John Spiers, gilder, 33 John Street, Glasgow.

John Spiers, shipping agent, 16 St Enoch Square, Glasgow.

John Spiers, spirit dealer, 50 Shaw Street, Greenock, Glasgow.

The Gazeteer & Directory of Warwickshire, 1850

Birmingham Trade List

John Spiers, cloth cap maker, 10 Church Street.

Morris Spiers, clock and watchmaker, 109 Snowhill.

Nathan Cohen Spiers, pawnbroker, 40 Ann Street.

S.C. Spiers, watch and clock maker, 17 Congreve Street.

(His advert in the Directory states that he was the author of a Treatise on Chronometry, and an importer of foreign clocks and watches &c,. Copies available from him).

William Spiers, grocer and tea dealer, 60 Aston Street.

Knightley Hundred, Kirby Division

Thomas Spiers, plumber and glazier, Bulkington Parish (near Nuneaton).

Knightley Hundred, Rugby Division

By his Will of 1618, John Spiers, gave £100 to the Parish, and £50 towards making a stone bridge and causeway at Kayne Brook, and by a Codicil to his Will it was declared that the money left to Newbold should not extend to the Hamlet of Coeford.

Knightley Hundred, Rugby Division

In 1697 Spier’s gave a gift of £50 to the poor of Dunchurch Parish towards the building of six almshouses.

(His first name not given. Dunchurch is 3 miles south of Rugby).

Handbook for the use of visitors to Harrow-on-the-Hill, Middlesex, 1850

James Spiers, provision dealer

Directory of Plymouth, Stonehouse, Devonport, Stoke and Moricetown, Devon, 1852

Mrs Spiers, 48 Pembroke Street, Devonport.

History, Gazeteer and Directory of the County of Oxford, 1852

R.J.Spiers, Esq., Sheriff and Bailiff and Alderman of the City of Oxford.

E.T.Spiers, Town Councillor of the City of Oxford.

Edwin T. Spiers, circulating library and newsagent, 96 High Street, Oxford.

Richard James Spiers, Esq., 14 St Giles Street, Oxford

Spiers & Son, china and glass dealers, 45 Cornmarket Street, Oxford.

Spiers & Son, 102 & 103 High Street, Oxford, desk and dressing case manufacturers, engravers, fancy warehousemen, hairdressers and perfumers, silversmiths and jewellers, stationers, stamp agents.

(They exhibited papier mâché furniture at the 1851 Great Exhibition in London).

Bampton & Weald and Townships Directory, Oxford (14 miles W of Oxford)

William Spiers, farmer, Aston & Coate Hamlet, Oxford

Richard Spiers, Esq., Iffley Parish, Bullington Hundred, Oxford.

Musson & Craven’s Commercial Directory of the County of Buckingham, 1853

Mr. William Spiers, Gent, Cippenham.

White’s Directory of Leeds, Bradford etc, Yorkshire, 1854

Halifax

Mr Thomas Spiers of Shay Syke, is superintendent constable for the Western Division of Morley Wapentake.

Melville’s Directory and Gazeteer of Leicestershire, 1854

Elmsthorpe (3½ miles NE of Hinckley)

Joseph Spiers, Baccus Tavern, Borough.

Miss Ann Spiers, milliner, Castle Street.

Thomas Spiers, child’s sock manufacturer, Castle Street.

Earl Shilton (4 mile NE of Hinckley)

John Spiers, tailor, Earl de Grey’s Arms.

Post-Office Directory of Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Middlesex, Surrey and Sussex, 1855

Gravesend, Kent

Joseph Stephen Spiers, pilot, 6 Terrace Street.

(He was a Trinity House Pilot on the River Thames)

Tunbridge Wells, Kent

William Henry Spiers, Inland Revenue Officer, Calverley Road.

Woolwich, Kent

William Thomas Spiers, builder, 74 Powis Street.

Mrs Mary Spiers, confectioner, 74 Powis Street.

Brentford, Middlesex

Charles Spiers, beer retailer, Orchard Road, Old Brentford.

Shacklewell, West Hackney, Middlesex

Charles Spiers, Esquire, 10 Amhurst Cottages.

Tottenham, Middlesex

J. Spiers, Esquire, Hanger Lane.

Post-Office Directory of Leicestershire and Rutland, 1855

Joseph Spiers, Baccus Tavern, Borough, Hinckley.

Thomas Spiers, haberdasher, Castle Street, Hinckley.

J. Spiers, Earl de Grey’s Arms, Burbage, Hinckley.

Mr Billing’s Directory & Gazeteer of the County of Worcester, 1855

Edwin Spiers, calenderer and dyer, Fish Street, Worcester.

Anthony Spiers, shopkeeper, Bewdley Street Evesham.

Henry Spiers, market gardener and seedsman, Briars Close, Evesham.

Joseph Spiers, market gardener and seedsman, Briars Close, Evesham.

Richard Spiers, farmer, Vicarage Farm, Peopleton (6 miles E of Worcester).

Isaac Spiers, wheelwright, Conderton, Bredon (3 miles NE of Tewkesbury).

J. Spiers, farmer, Chaseley Waith, Chaseley (3 Miles from Tewkesbury).

Henry Spiers, shoemaker, Kinnersley, Severn Stoke (7 miles S of Worcester).

William Spiers, hairdresser and fish hook maker, Headless Cross, Feckenham.

White’s Directory and Topography of Leeds, Halifax, Huddersfield, and Wakefield, 1858

Thomas Spiers, superintendent of Halifax Police District, 5 Fountain Street, Halifax, Yorkshire.

Post-Office Directory of Northumberland and Durham, 1858

Davis Spiers, farmer, Darlington.

Harrison, Harrod & Co’s Bristol Post-Office Directory and Gazeteer, 1859

William Spiers, miller, Ashchurch, Winchcomb, Gloucestershire.

A Sample of London Directories

Spiers Addresses/Occupations

Name Address Date Occupn Ref

William Spiers St Lukes Parish, 1769 Cordwainer Apprentice

Kensington, Deed

Joseph Spiers Burton, Warwickshire 1775 Poll Book

John Spiers Upper Marylebone St 1802 Middx Poll Books

Rectory-freehold of Chelsea

Hospital occupied by self

Charles Spiers Twickenham house 1802 Middx Poll Books

and land occ by self

William Spiers 20 Castle St 1805 Carpenter Holden’s Trienial

Compiled by Ron Spiers, January 2004

The names Spiers and Spires are often interchangable, less so Spyers.

Trade Directories may list both Spiers and Spires for the same person. For example see –

Morris (Maurice) Spiers, 1847 and Spires, 1850

and

William Spiers, 1830 and Spires, 1828/29, 1830.

This would probably indicate how they pronounced their name. Scottish directories are not included in this listing, but in Scotland, Spiers (speers) and Speirs (speers) are sometimes interchangable. Speirs found in a few English directories are given below. My family pronounces its name as ‘speers’.

Pigot’s National and Commercial Directory of Cheshire, ……., Warwickshire, etc., 1828/1829

Joseph Spires, butcher, Burbage, Hinckley, Leicester

James Spires, carpenter, Earl Shilton, Hinckley, Leicester.

Sarah Spires, dressmaker, Deritend, Birmingham.

William Spires, haberdasher, 238 Bristol Street, Birmingham.

History, Topography and Directory of Warwickshire, 1830

Sarah Spires, dressmaker, Deritend, Birmingham.

William Spires, haberdasher, 238 Bristol Street, Birmingham.

Pigot’s Directory of Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, etc., 1835

James Spires, carpenter, Earl Shilton, Hinckley, Leicester

Robson’s Birmingham and Sheffield Directory, 1839

William Spires, solicitor and attorney, 27 Bristol Street, Birmingham.

History, Gazeteer and Directory of Lincolnshire and Rutland, 1846

James Spires, wheelwright, Whetstone, Leicestershire.

Slater’s Directory of Leicestershire, 1847

James Spires, wheelwright, Whetstone.

Historical Directory of Warwickshire, 1850

William Spires, attorney’s clerk, 27 Bristol Street, Birmingham.

Morris Spires, watch and clockmaker, 109 Snow Hill.

Ephraim Spires, blacksmith, Willey, Knightlow Hundred (6½ mile N of Rugby).

William Spires, comb maker, Kenilworth.

Moses Spires, blacksmith, Haselor (2½ mile from Alcestor).

Annual Bristol and Clifton Directory and Gloucestershire Almanac, 1851

E. Spires, had a trow (boat) named, Lilley, at Quay Head on the River Severn

(for transportation).

Slater’s General and Classified Directory of Birmingham, 1852

John Spires, cloth cap maker, 11 Church Street.

Musson and Craven’s Commercial Directory of Buckinghamshire, 1853

Josiah Spires, beer retailer and market gardener, Linslade, Buckinghamshire.

Mr. William Spires, Long Crendon, Buckinghamshire.

Mary Spires, dressmaker, Long Crendon, Buckinghamshire.

William Spires, farmer, Ludgershall, Buckinghamshire.

Post-Office Directory of Berkshire, Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire, 1854

John Spires, beer retailer, Linslade, Leighton Buzzard, Buckinghamshire.

Richard Spires, gent, Priory, Iffley, Oxfordshire.

Slater’s Directory of Herefordshire, …… , Warwickshire, etc., 1859

William Spires, groceries, 15 Pounce Street, Gloucester.

Post-Office Directory of Buckinghamshire, 1864

William Spires, farmer, Bradwell.

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Post Office Directory of Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Middlesex, Surrey and Sussex, 1855

Rev. Thomas Spyers D.D., academy, Halstain House, Wimbledon, Surrey. Also Weybridge, Chertsey.

Robson’s National and Commercial Directory of Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, ….., Warwickshire, etc., 1835

Godson Spyers, grocer, Bishop Street, Coventry.

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The Original Brighton and Hove Directory, 1854

Robert Speirs, publican, Old House at Home, 75 George Street, Brighton, Sussex.

Post-Office Directory of Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Middlesex, Surrey and Sussex, 1855

Robert Speirs, publican, Old House at Home, 75 George Street, Brighton, Sussex.

Gore’s Directory of Liverpool and its environs, 1853

Alexander Speirs, engineer, 16 Juvenal Street, Liverpool.

History, Topography and Directory of Herefordshire, 1858

Thomas Grey Speirs, police constable, Southend Street, Ledbury.

Author’s note - The three names above indicate that their birthplace may be in Scotland.

Slater’s Directory of Important Towns, 1847

Glasgow

Alexander Speirs, manufacturer of muslins (harness), 7 & 13 Exchange Place.

David Speirs, 76 Canning Street.

James Speirs, 68 New Dalmarnock Road.

Robert Speirs, 24 Clyde Street, Anderston.

William Speirs, writer, 21 Virginia Street.

Paisley

David Speirs, shawl and plaid maker, 30 Orchard Street.

Greenock

John Speirs, physician, 44 Hamilton Street.

John Robert Speirs, physician, 34 Hamilton Street.

James Speirs, sugar refiner, Port Glasgow Road.