Pigot's 1828 Directory Extracts: Introduction



This is a file which contains extracts from Pigot's Directory for Lancashire (1828-9) The extracts cover only a small part of the county, namely: Bury and the Rossendale area to the north of it. This includes the townships of:

  • Bacup
  • Bury
  • Crawshawbooth
  • Edenfield
  • Elton
  • Haslingden
  • Holcombe
  • Newchurch-in-Rossendale
  • Ramsbottom
  • Rawtenstall
  • Tottington
  • Walmersley

The directory, which is available in facsimile form, is laid out by the 'major' towns. Within each section it is laid out by trades or professions. The extract covers only three sections which are

  • Bury (BUR)
  • Haslingden (HAS)
  • Newchurch (NEW)
The abbreviations in brackets are those I have used for each section and are not part of the original. The rough areas covered by each are

BURY includes Elton, Ramsbottom, Tottington, Tottington Lower End, Walmersley
HASLINGDEN includes Edenfield, Rawtenstall, Shuttleworth, Tottington Higher End
NEWCHURCH includes Bacup, Crawshawbooth, Whitewell Bottom. Note that this is Newchurch-in-Rossendale as distinct from Newchurch-in-Pendle

In the extract the arrangement is alphabetical by surname and then by forename. The abbreviation is given to indicate the main section (BUR, HAS, NEW). The occupation is also given and these two bits of information should facilitate a check with the original which is always advisable when possible. If a just a street name is given it will usually refer to the main town indicated by the abbreviation. In other cases one of the satellite townships may be indicated.
The abbreviation of forenames follows the original and you need to know that Pigot is not consistent. The same name is given in full or abbreviated so that it would fit the space. So William may be given as Wm or in full. You need to remember this when searching as these would not be together in alphabetical order.
Also the classification of occupations varies from town to town depending on the particular combinations present. For example in Bury there is a heading "booksellers, binders, stationers" and in Haslingden the (nearly) equivalent classification "booksellers, printers, stationers". If I give an occupation which appears not to be given in Pigot you may find the person under 'miscellaneous'. This is because I decided to list a number of people under the occupations given for them even though Pigot put them under 'Miscellaneous'. In some cases information has been omitted. For example a person may be entered under a particular occupation but a qualifier is added in the text. For this reason it is always a good idea to check the original document. For the same reason a person I have left as 'miscellaneous' may have an occupation given in the original.
Companies: As the list is meant as an aid to finding people I have omitted some companies but have not been consistent - frequently company names relate to real people. Again a check with the original is needed
'Gentry & Clergy' These are lumped together in Pigot but where he has given a person the title of 'Rev' I have put them down as clergy. The rest I have put down as gentry.
Taverns I have entered taverns by the name given rather than the name of the tavern
Coaches and carriers are also entered under personal names. The list contains over 1300 names and derives from an Access database.

PIGOT'S DIRECTORY EXTRACTS