Maps: Tithe and Ordnance Survey

What will I find?

A tithe map is a detailed survey of a landscape, which denotes area boundaries and was in common use prior to ordnance survey maps.

A landowner had a tithe map drawn up in order to show not only his land, buildings and other assets, but also to show to whom he rented particular portions of land/buildings (tithe apportionment). There was no standard size or scale for Tithe maps

Three copies were generally made

• The original for the Tithe Commissioners – now in The National Archives at Kew,
  
• One copy for the Diocese - the copy which which may be availible in County Record Office,
  
• One copy for the parish - as above
  

You may find papers and letters relating to tithe payments made by parishioners in parish collections.

The tithe was an annual payment of an agreed proportion (originally one-tenth) of the yearly produce of the land, so it was important that your area was marked accurately so as to establish your fair Tithe

Ordnance survey maps

Ordnance survey is a collection of maps, of a standard scale and size, and more detailed than a Tithe map.

Begun in 1840, this is the first comprehensive historic mapping of England, Scotland and Wales. In 1841, the Ordnance Survey Act gave map makers a legal right to 'enter into and upon any land' for survey purposes.

Jan 1st 1841 saw publication of the first of these standardised maps, and was of Kent, although use of the name 'ordnance survey' wasnt used until c1810

Although OS maps do not give any information about the occupants of an area, maps include geographical features we would expect to find on modern maps, maps are detailed enough to show the existence of a building. Churches, pubs, farms, mines, factory works and important houses are often named, although roads are usually not.

Also of use: Valuation Maps: Revaluation of land values carried out by the Inland Revenue after 1910

Surveys of manors and estates: the Lord of a Manor or the owner of a particular estate may have commissioned a survey to be carried out to record the extent of his lands, or to show alterations to the estate.

Highway Diversions: made by the order of Quarter Sessions, these maps show the diversion or stopping up of footpaths and highways in the nineteenth century

few visuals to be inserted.

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