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Trade Directories
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Renfrewshire Trades Directories begin in 1810 for Paisley and are available from approximately this year until 1937, the run is not complete, some years are missing. Trades Directories provide information about the development and progress of local businesses and organisations and about the life of a community over the years. Not all towns and villages in Renfrewshire are included in each year, and the type of information provided also varies from year to year. Information about dates may also be slightly inaccurate. The Trade Directories can be seen in Renfrewshire Libraries Local Studies Library.
Renfrewshire Trade Directory
The minimum amount of information for a small settlement is a list of people of importance to the community, arranged alphabetically by surname. The basis on which names were included is not exactly clear, but it appears to include those engaged in professions, businesses or trades and also people of local importance. Business names and / or home addresses may be given. There may also be an alphabetical list of names arranged by trades and professions.
Larger places like Paisley include many more entries with information about -
- the Local Authority
- parochial boards
- magistrates and councillors
- justices of the peace
- prisons and courts
- water, gas and police commissioners
- fire brigade
- public health authority, hospitals and infirmaries
- road and navigation trustees
- railways and other public transport; boundaries
- public schools and teachers
- cemeteries and burial grounds
- militia
- places of worship and clergymen
- commissioner of supply
- insurance companies
- clubs, societies, associations and organisations
- bank holidays
Street indexes are included in some directories:
- Paisley 1895 and then continuously from 1900 - 1937 (the last volume in our collection)
- Renfrew and Johnstone from 1926.
Many Paisley streets and house numbers changed in January 1923. A list of the revisions is available in the Local Studies Library.
