Tithes were originally a tax which required one tenth of all agricultural produce to be paid annually to support the local church and clergy. After the Reformation much land passed from the Church to lay owners who inherited entitlement to receive tithes, along with the land. Tithes were taxes paid to the local church, both in cash and ‘in kind’ (such as produce of the land). People paid one tenth of everything they produced.
By the early 19th century tithe payment in kind seemed a very out-of-date practice, while payment of tithes per se became unpopular, against a background of industrialisation, religious dissent and agricultural depression. The Tithe Commutation Act 1836, required tithes in kind to be converted to more convenient monetary payments called tithe rentcharge. The Tithe Survey was established to find out which areas were subject to tithes, who owned them, how much was payable and to whom.
The Tithe Commutation Act and an amending act in 1837 established a procedure whereby 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.
Each map was accompanied by a schedule listing each map item by number. This showed the owners, occupiers and a description of the land in the parish including individual fields - sometimes with field names.
Most of the surveying and mapping was carried out by 1841, and the work was largely completed by 1851.
Tithes were finally abolished in 1936.
The tithe map for Stanford Rivers was completed in 1839. It is on a scale of 8 inches to the mile, and measures some 10 feet by 10 feet. The Valuer was Robert Hale, and it was countersigned by William Blamire and J. W. Buller, Tithe Commissioners.
Using the schedule we can identify the fields and their owners.
Key:
1st column = Field number.
2nd column = Field name.
3rd column = whether pasture or arable.
4th column = size of field.
5th column = landowner.
6th column = owner of the property.
Field no 215 was known as Kemps Mead. Owned by Edward Branfill Champion. Occupied by Edward Rayner.
Field 228 was known as Stable Hoppit. Owned by Sir Charles Cunliffe Smith Bt. and occupied by Henry Pavitt.