Bampton Tithe Map

The Bampton Tithe Map of 1838-9 and its apportionment schedule shows how much tithe was due from each farmer each year. The Tithe Map parchment originals are very large and delicate - one is kept in the Kendal Record Office and another in the National Archive at Kew, London. In a recent project using an Awards for All grant, Bampton and District Local History Society commissioned Christine Gillespie to transcribe the tithe map entries into a database. In addition, a photocopy of the original map, reduced in size, was made and this is now on display inside the small hall at Bampton Memorial Hall, along with an information panel. The schedule of farmers and their dues is available as a searchable Access database on CD. In addition, the summary and full schedule can be found online here: Bampton Tithe Map Apportionment Schedule Agreement Bampton Tithe Map Schedule Summary Bampton Tithe Map Full Schedule - long load time - 0.5MB. August 2007: We have just updated the tithe map database with an extra field containing current property names. This information was painstakingly collected by John Stacey and is a good addition to the database as it is probably what people will search on first!

Units

• In the schedule tables, areas are listed in Acres, Roods and Perches (ARP).
  • An acre is 4,840 square yards.
  • A rood is a rectangular area with edges of one furlong and one rod. There are 4 roods to an acre, ie 40 perches. (A furlong is 40 rods.)
  • A perch is equal to a square rod. There are 40 perches to a rood, and 160 perches to an acre.
  For convenience, the ARP area has converted into decimal areas and metric hectares.

• The amount due is listed in the schedule in Pounds, Shillings and Pence (£sd).
  For convenience, the £sd amount due has converted into decimal pounds.

What is a tithe?

Tithes were an ancient levy on the fruits of the earth. Parishioners gave one tenth of their stock and produce to maintain their parish clergy.

Great tithes – corn, hay, wood – were paid to the rector. Sometimes lay impropriators gained the right to great tithes – in Bampton, the Earl of Lonsdale and the Trustees of Bampton School received them. Small tithes – wool, calves, lambs, foals, eggs – were paid to the vicar.

Tithes were originally paid in kind and collecting them caused endless trouble. Tithe owners searched for produce they suspected farmers of hiding and farmers found many ways of avoiding payment.

To end the conflict, the Tithe Commutation Act was passed in 1836. Based on land values, tithes were converted to an annual money tax known as ‘corn rents’ or ‘tithe rent charges’.

What is a tithe map?

Tithe maps were made by Tithe Commissioners appointed under the 1836 Tithe Commutation Act. Bampton’s Tithe map was one of the earliest and the Commissioners’ seal guarantees its accuracy. Each field or plot of land is numbered so that it can be identified in the tithe apportionment schedule.

The tithe apportionment schedule is the key to the tithe map. The map and schedule together make an invaluable guide. The schedule is divided into seven columns

1. Landowners listed alphabetically
2. Occupiers – if the landowner, this is shown as ‘himself’, otherwise the tenant’s name is given
3. Identifying number of the property
4. Name of the field, feature or premises
5. State of cultivation eg arable, meadow or pasture
6. The size – in acres, roods and perches
7. The tithe in money replacing tithes in kind

What the tithe map can tell us

Tithe maps give the most comprehensive survey of parishes since the Domesday Book of 1086. Since Bampton was not included in the Domesday Survey, the tithe map of 1838-9 is our very first systematic parish record.

Tithe maps were drawn to a very large scale – 25 inches to the mile. They showed farmland in great detail including fields, tracks, streams and buildings. Uncultivated land such as fell, moor and common was not shown.

Geographic orientation was not important (note where north is marked!). Marking the boundaries of even the tiniest strip of land was essential since land determined how much tithe had to be paid.

The photocopy on display in Bampton Memorial Hall has been taken from the larger parchment original, faded with age. Beside it (also see below) is an enlarged image of one area – field names have been inserted and attached is a typed list of owners and tenant farmers.