About Bassett’s County Directories

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Apart from the Dublin City and County Directories published by Alexander Thom & Co., and the national directories published by the likes of Pigott and Slater, Irish county directories are not commonplace in the nineteenth century. William Bassett began publishing county directories in the 1870s for Limerick, and over the following 20 years published directories for many Irish counties. The collection here includes:

• 1881 Bassett’s Limerick City and County, and the Principal Towns in the Counties Clare, Tipperary, and Kerry, Directory
• 1884 Bassett’s Kilkenny Guide & Directory
• 1885 Bassett’s Wexford County Guide & Directory
• 1886 Bassett’s County Down Guide and Directory
• 1886 Bassett's Louth Guide & Directory
• 1888 Bassett's Book of Antrim
• 1888 Bassett’s Book of County Armagh

Bassett's publications are both a directory and a guide to the county in the year for which they were published. They are some of the most important sources published for these counties in the late nineteenth century, recording details (addresses and occupations) for around 10,000 people in each county. Each volume contains around 400 pages of detailed information, as well as an excellent full colour map.

The books begin with the history, economy, geology and social life of the respective county. This is followed by a full directory for every town and village, giving the names and details for all office-holders, professionals, merchants and tradesmen, as well as a full alphabetical directory of farmers and other residents not listed by trade. There is a detailed introduction to each town and village, with information about the economy, history, religion, railways, post, and general character of the place. It includes an extended treatment for major towns and cities. The books finish with an index of places, a list of fairs and markets, and includes many commercial advertisements. 

All personal and place names in these publications are searchable. Search results give an individuals name and the town or postal district they were recorded for. This is linked to a scan of the original page of the publication which will probably contain more precise address information, occupations, etc.

See also:	Help on Searching - Directories of Ireland
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