Trade directories were published through much of the 19th century and continued into the 20th century. In the days before telephone directories and Yellow Pages they were important sources of information and covered most parts of the country. They provided general information and also a listing of the important people in a town, often organised by trade as shown here.

The general information provides what was intended to be brief factual content and the extract here reflects Torquay?s place as an increasingly popular resort for wealthy visitors in 1830. Even at this relatively early date the prosperity of the area is stated as being dependent mainly on rich visitors and the coastal and Newfoundland trade is dismissed as very limited.

This is a useful source for investigating the range of occupations in Torquay and making comparisons with the range at later dates. Why not give a different section of the document to groups and investigate the differences between the trades? For example milliners and dressmakers are women and surgeons are all men. Why was this so? Many of the nobility are high-ranking servicemen who probably retired to the town, attracted by its climate, scenery and reputation.