The Manchester Directories 1772, 1773 & 1781

This title is printed to order. This book may have been self-published. If so, we cannot guarantee the quality of the content. In the main most books will have gone through the editing process however some may not. We therefore suggest that you be aware of this before ordering this book. If in doubt check either the author or publisher’s details as we are unable to accept any returns unless they are faulty. Please contact us if you have any questions.

In 1772 Manchester was a fast growing town thanks to the rise in industrialisation. Elizabeth Raffald ran a shop, a cookery school, a coaching inn, a servant's employment register, wrote a cookbook and supported the local newspaper financially, wrote a manuscript on midwifery and so much more. She was innovative so it was only logical that she would be the first with the innovation of a directory of traders and notable people, and only 3 years after producing her cookbook she had compiled a 60 page guide to the locations and trades of many residents, a year later increasing it to 78 pages as the town grew and addresses were improved. She produced a third directory in 1781 after placing advertisements in the Manchester Mercury for people wishing to be included. After she died in 1781 it took another 7 years before anyone else attempted another directory. Elizabeth Raffald was truly a pioneer of her time. For more about Elizabeth see 'The Experienced English Housekeeper of Manchester' by Suze Appleton.