Hello.  I am sure this is old news to many of you but in case any like me are new to this, the following link might be useful to you.   www.historicaldirectories.org   Full text of historical directories on line.  Dates range from 1750 to 1919.  England and Wales. e.g. Pigot's North Wales Directory 1828-9.   Gives descriptions of towns and villages, names of shopkeepers, tradesmen, industrialists, gentry, info on schools, churches etc.   Chris   Chris