Tithe Maps - Tithe Commutation Act 1836

Tithe Commutation Act 1836

The Tithe Commutation Act 1836 and an amending act in 1837 established a process by which tithes could be converted to money payments. This required the drawing of an accurate map (the accuracy of which was certified by commissioners) showing all the land in the parish. The series of maps resulting from this legislation provides unprecedented coverage, detail and accuracy.

The initial intent was to produce maps of the highest possible quality, but the expense (incurred by the landowners) led to the provision that the accuracy of the maps would be testified to by the seal of the commissioners, and only maps of suitable quality would be so sealed. In the end, about one sixth of the maps had seals. A map was produced for each "tithe district", that is, one region in which tithes were paid as a unit. These could be distinct from parishes or townships. Areas in which tithes had already been commutated were not mapped, so that coverage varied widely from county to county. The maps indicated parcels and buildings, assigning each a number.

The map was accompanied by a schedule in the form of a table with an entry for each map item by number. This showed the owner, occupier and a description of the land in the parish including individual fields - sometimes with field names. (The description may be short - house and barn, arable, etc.) A preamble gave the name of the tithe owner, the circumstances under which tithes were owed, and the whether the apportionment was subject to an agreement worked out among the parties, or was being imposed by the Crown. Most of the surveying and mapping was carried out by 1841, and the work was largely completed by 1851. In some cases amendments had to be filed as properties were divided or other circumstances intervened. The work was also complicated by numerous irregularities in the way tithes were assessed. For example, timber might or might not include standing trees, branches, acorns, mast, and even charcoal. Variations as to the circumstances of tithe-paying were also considerable. Three copies of these maps and schedules were prepared, one of which was held centrally by the Tithe Commissioners, one locally in the parish church and one in the diocesan registry.