[posted] Posted(#62250, Bagshaw)

[David Price]

History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Shropshire [1851],by Samuel Bagshaw 62250
   [Link: http://www.gutenberg.org/6/2/2/5/62250 ]
   [Files: 62250-0.txt; 62250-h.htm]




For those wishing to know: the most detailed account of Shropshire, 
England, in the early 1850's, that was ever published.  It covers every 
town, village etc., in many cases lists the key people and tradesmen of a 
district, gives their history, parish sizes, transport links etc.  All the 
information was collected manually and clearly took a very long time, so 
unlike a census it's not exactly a snapshot.  Having read it all (and 
probably have been the only person in history to do so!) I can see what a 
vast undertaking it was, and how inconsistancies crept in.  It's rather 
trajic that after producing this (and some other similar directories), 
Samuel Bagshaw ended his life in a mental institution.

All the best,
David,
England with blue skies