APP. VI. VARIOUS METHODS OF PAYING TITHES 457 



APPENDIX VI. 



COLLECTION OF TITHES (1793-1815.) 



The following variations in the methods of collecting tithes are mentioned 

 in the Reports to the Board of Agriculture on the respective counties. 



1. EASTERN AND NORTH-EASTERN COUNTIES. 



Bedford. A corn-rent generally adopted instead of an allotment of land 

 when enclosures are made. Few enclosed parishes continue tithable. Half 

 the parishes are Vicarages, and the great tithes are in the hands of lay impro- 

 priators. In about 10 parishes tithes are collected in kind. 



Cambs. Much tithe collected in kind, the hirer paying from 3s. to 6s. 4d. 

 per acre. Compositions average the same rate or higher. One-tenth of the 

 prime cost of purchased manures allowed by several titheowners. On 

 enclosures th of arable, th of pasture, and th of fen, all fenced at the cost 

 of proprietors, allotted in lieu of tithe. 



Essex. Average for great and small tithes is a composition of 3s. 9d. per 

 pound rent. 



Herts. Titheowners generally moderate because the light soils could only 

 produce heavy crops under spring-dressings brought from a distance at 

 great cost. In 1813 there is no instance of tithe being taken in kind. 



Hunts. Instead of land being allotted in lieu of tithes on enclosures, a 

 corn-rent varying with the price of corn is generally arranged. 



Lincoln. Compositions average from ith to ^th of the rent of arable land, 

 }th to |th of meadow, $th of rich pasture. Tithes exchanged for land on 

 enclosure. Much land unploughed in order to escape tithes. 



Norfolk. Very little tithe collected in kind. Compositions average 3s. 6d. 

 an acre (1793) or 4s. 9d. (1803) on arable land and Is. 6d. for grass. 



Suffolk. Some tithe taken in kind. Compositions, sometimes by the acre, 

 sometimes by the pound rent, vary in amount, but are generally much under 

 real value. 



2. SOUTH-EASTERN AND EAST MIDLAND. 



Berks. Great tithes compounded at 5s. in the pound rent ; small at Is. 3d. 



Bucks. Lay impropriators less careful of interests of parish than clerical 

 titheowners. Average of composition 4s. 6d. an acre. Out of 204 parishes 

 82 are tithe free, i.e. extinguished by allotments of land in lieu ; 30 partly 

 and chiefly tithe free ; three pay a corn-rent, one a modus. The remaining 

 114 are tithable. Only one tithe collected in kind. Compositions moderate. 



Hants. Much tithe taken in kind ; composition from 4s. 6d. to 7s. on full 

 improved rent. 



Kent. Much tithe let out to proctors who collect in kind. 



