What is a Tithe Map?
A tithe map was drawn up for almost all rural parishes between 1836 and 1850. This was necessary because the Tithe Commutation Act of 1836 asked that payments of tithe in the form of farm produce should be replaced by a money payment. Tithe was a tax, which was paid to the local church.

Each map will show at least the boundaries of woods, fields, roads and waterways and the location of buildings. The houses are sometimes shown in enough detail to show their shape. The land map is drawn with all the plots and are numbered individually,

The Tithe map gives the following apportionment detail:-

Plot No. referring to plan
Landowner Premises.
Occupiers name(s).
State of cultivation.
Area Quantity.
Value of rent charge apportioned.
Value of Land in Old Pounds shillings and pence

To find out the apportionment details on the Tithe map click here

Why were Tithe Maps Created?
By the 19th century, the whole system of paying tithes had become confused and was causing much resentment. Many tithes were being paid not to the church itself but to landowners who had taken over the tithes during the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 1530s.

The tithe system discouraged farming improvements. If the farmer grew more crops on his land he had to pay more of them as tithe. The Tithe Commutation Act of 1836 meant that each field or titheable plot had to be valued and the tithe map and its apportionment were drawn up for this purpose.

Understanding Tithe Maps
The surveyors of the tithe maps were given specific instructions on how the maps should look by the Tithe Commission in London. However, some surveyors followed all these instructions. The result is that the maps vary slightly in style as well as in scale and quality.

We are lucky enough to see that the Heneage Estate Map dated 1821 for Lyneham is remarkedly clear and followed the guidelines set. The tithe map also depicts the landscape, which is often very different from what we recognise today. It is useful to remember some important points about the tithe map orientation, scale and notation.

Orientation
The Heneage Estate Map of Lyneham has its own compass from which the user can get their bearings. Tithe maps were not always drawn with north pointing to the top of the page.

Scale
The scale used on the tithe map is written as a number of chains on the ground equalling an inch on the map. One chain is equal to 20.32 metres or 22 yards. Other scales used vary between 1 chain to 1 inch (7.92 metres to 1 centimetre) and 12 chains to 1 inch (95.04 metres to 1 centimetre).

Notation
Houses: When colour has been used on the maps, inhabited buildings are shown in red and uninhabited buildings like out buildings and barns in black/grey. On uncoloured maps houses were made more prominent, usually by heavier shading or solid black filling.

Water. The sea, rivers, streams, lakes and ponds are shown by the use of blue colouring or outlining.

Roads. Public roads are often coloured brown.

Hedges and fences. These are sometimes shown by pictorial symbols. The symbols may point to properties and thus indicate ownership of the hedge or fence.

Land Use
Each individual area of tithable land is given an unique plot number which corresponds with the associated registry which accompanies the map. It comes in a booklet form laid out like a formal register.

Accuracy of Tithe Maps
Overall Tithe maps were not created to provide an accurate survey of the area, the aim was to show the boundaries of all areas for which tithe was owed, usually fields. The amount of other information given varies from map to map. If something does not appear on a map, it does not mean that it did not exist.

Later Coverage

In 1837 it was agreed that tithe maps could be classified as first or second-class. First-class maps were thought to be accurate enough to serve as legal evidence of boundaries. Maps, which had a smaller scale than 4 chains to 1 inch (31.68 metres to 1 centimetre), were not considered for first-class status. Some Ordnance Survey early maps documented for Lyneham were drawn and Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre Cocklebury Road Chippenham has what has been saved. These maps may still be accurate and should not be seen as inferior to first-class maps. There are several old maps at the History Centre and it is advisable to pre book a visit to the archive centre to save time getting the maps and documents out of storage.