The publishers of "The Comprehensive Gazetteer of England and Wales" commented that "The want of a trustworthy modern work of reference on the topography of our own country is one that has long been felt and frequently expressed."
The gazetteer, edited by J.H.F.Brabner, FRGS, was published in 1895 by William Mackenzie, London, soon after the release in 1893 of the results of the tenth census (1891) of England & Wales. Subscribers to British Origins now have access to a fully searchable version of this gazetteer.
The information in the 6-volume gazetteer comprises nearly 20,000 separate articles, created over several years by an experienced team of compilers. To ensure accuracy, the (extensive) articles on the most important cities and towns were written "on the spot", while the smaller articles were submitted to local authorities to check to verify they information they contained.
Of particular value for genealogical research is the attention paid to churches and other ecclesiastical establishments in the various parishes; this can provide invaluable help in identifying the likely locations of original records for places with which your ancestors may be associated. There is also considerable historical information, mention of the main properties in each place, and the families associated with these properties. Victorian pride is shown by detailed statistics relating to commerce, shipping, manufactures and agriculture.
The gazetteer includes a series of maps, of every county in England and Wales, plus plans of the principal cities and towns. There are also available online to subscribers.