Tithe

DL/T1

Tithe

1837 - 1934

The tithe process involved the creation of several types of document had in this collection. The two most important, which were designed to be used in conjunction, are the Tithe Maps and the related Apportionments. Together they give an unparalleled view of the English Landscape in the 1830's and 1840's. The maps, though variable in quality, are often highly detailed and usually large scale and were drawn up to assess how much should be paid. Each plot or field is numbered. The Apportionments not only list both landowners and occupiers and the amount of any rent they had to pay, but also provide a description of the land including field names and land use.

In addition to these there are other subsidiary tithe records which form part of the collection:

Altered Apportionments - which record further sub-divisions or alterations of acreage. They list names of owners or occupiers and all have plans of the relevant portion of the parish. They may be useful in showing the later development of certain areas.

Awards of Exchange - which record the exchange of property belonging to a landowner. This was usually for Glebe Land and generally at the instigation of the vicar in order to get all the Glebe Land together in a compact parcel.

Certificates of Capital Value - official valuations of properties.

Tithe Redemption Certificates - which record the paying off by the landowner of the capital value of the tithe or rentcharge to the rector as a final settlement for a particular piece of land.

This collection has been arranged as follows:

Maps and Apportionments DL/TI/A

Altered Apportionments DL/TI/AA

Awards of Exchange DL/TI/AE

Certificates of Capital Value DL/TI/CCV

Redemption Certificates DL/TI/RC

<span class="wrapper"><p>This collection of tithe records is the largest held at London Metropolitan Archives LMA. Altogether LMA has Tithe records for over 50 parishes with items dating from 1835-1934. Two Surrey parishes have deposited Tithe Awards at LMA. P885/MTW1/122 is a Tithe Map and Apportionment for Saint Matthew, Brixton, part of the Parish of Saint Mary Lambeth. P95/LEN/087 is a Tithe Map for Saint Leonards, Streatham. There are also Altered Apportionments and Certificates of Redemption P95/LEN/088-091. These deposits are examples of the 'third copy' - the one placed in the custody of the parish.</p> <p>With the exception of these three Southwark Parish awards, the rest of the 50 or so Tithe Awards at LMA are mostly from those parishes in Middlesex which lie furthest from London and which remained rural into the 1830's. Built up areas closer to the City were likely to have had tithe extinguished much earlier.</p> <p>Awards for the rest of Southwark are likely to be in Surrey Record Office. For parishes in Kent, Essex or other counties around London readers are advised to contact the relevant County Record Office. Alternatively, the 'first copies' those in the custody of the Tithe Commissioners can be found at the National Archives formerly the Public Record Office.</p> <p>More tithe related records can be found in other deposited collections in LMA: ACC/3259/SE/04 is a Tithe Plan of Bedfont Parish from 1840, and there are also other papers concerning valuations, price per acre and annual tithe value. These form part of the records of the Sherborn Family which owned Fawns Manor, East Bedfont. Amongst the papers from Couchmans Solicitors, a Tottenham firm, is an office copy of an Apportionment of rent charge in lieu of tithe for Tottenham in 1843 ACC/1016/620. However, there is no plan.</p> <p>Finally, the records of Shepperton Parish and Parish Council and Lindsay Estates, contain a copy of the 1843 Shepperton Tithe Map ACC/1218/029; Altered Apportionments ACC/1218/030-044; and Tithe Redemption Certificates ACC/1218/045-063.</p></span>

English

2743 files

There were three copies of each Tithe Award. The first remained with the Tithe Commissioners set up under the Act and can now be found in the National Archives formerly the Public Record Office. The second, which went to the Diocesan Registry, and subsequently passed to the appropriate County Record Office, is the source of the majority of those at LMA. The final copy was placed in the custody of the incumbent and churchwardens of the parish.

Tithe was traditionally a payment in kind to the church of 1/10th of the products of the land. Over the centuries the system became increasingly difficult to operate, with numerous arguments over exactly what was owed and how it should be paid. Under the Tithe Commutation Act of 1836 tithe dues were replaced by fixed rent payments.