This advert appeared in the Gazette in early July announcing the publication of the 1923 edition of the Tiverton & District Directory. In the 1920s, these came out every 3 years, ‘with a specially compiled list of residents in Tiverton and 50 other parishes in Devon and West Somerset’. The Museum doesn’t hold a copy of the 1923 edition but we have got that from 1920 and 1929, the latter being the ‘fourteenth triennial issue’. The earliest one we hold is for 1897-8. These volumes are a mine of information for anyone interested in local or family history.

Goodlands were one of several companies who advertised in 1895, 1920 and in 1929. As well as opening new depots, by 1920 they had a telephone in Tiverton and by 1929 in their other offices too. The 1920 advert also gives a list of the coals they can supply ‘Forest of Dean and Midland Coals, Welsh House and Smiths’ Coals, Ocean Merthyr Steam Coals as well as anthracite and coke. These adverts are from 1895 and 1929.

The 1895 edition also includes a ‘miscellaneous directory’ at the back giving details of churches, schools, philanthropic societies, military establishments and much more including this small section on ‘carriers’.

Each parish has an entry like the first page of this one for Silverton in 1929. It lists the inhabitants and usually includes both their address and occupation.