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Tithe Maps
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Although some parishes had replaced this payment in kind with a fixed sum of money or grant of land, most were still paying tithes as late as the early nineteenth century and this was causing increasing resentment. Under the Tithe Commutation Act of 1836, tithe payments in kind were commuted to a rent charge, and Tithe Commissioners were appointed to negotiate fair land values with local inhabitants.
Meetings were held across the country to settle the terms of the commutation of the tithes. If the parties agreed on the settlement a Tithe Agreement was drawn up. If there was a dispute and the Commissioner had to arbitrate, then a Tithe Award was made. These agreements or awards formed the basis of the Tithe Apportionment, which was usually accompanied by a large scale map.
Tithe maps and apportionments can
be amongst the most useful maps for family history as the apportionments actually
give the names of owners and occupiers of particular pieces of land and describe
what the land was used for, e.g. colliery, meadow.
Click on the image to enlarge
Some parishes had already
commuted their tithes ahead of the Act of Parliament and there was, therefore,
no need for a tithe apportionment to be drawn up. However, in some cases,
other maps are available that give similar types of information e.g.
Map of Tettenhall 1837, surveyed by Richard Timmis.
Tithe maps and apportionments
for parishes in the Wolverhampton area are held at the Public
Record Office and the
Lichfield Diocesan Record Office , although there are copies for many
local parishes here at Wolverhampton Archives & Local Studies.
Click on the image to enlarge
