In the earliest days of the Church, the parson or rector (i.e. ruler) was supported by tithes, lands and offerings. Tithes, originally voluntary, are a tenth part of the produce of the soil and became obligatory on those living close to a particular church.
The payment of tithes in kind was finally abolished by the Tithes Act of 1836. Each parish was surveyed, each and every piece of land was listed, with names of its owners and of its occupier, with its acreage (in acres, roods and perches), 'state of cultivation' (e.g. arable, orchard, garden), the amount of rent charged for each piece and how much went to the vicar and how much to the Impropriate Rector. This was the first detailed and accurate survey of the parish and gives a complete and invaluable picture of the village 150 years ago. The total acreage of the parish was measured as 2218 acres. It was not until 1976 that payments of tithes were officially and finally abolished.
The Tytherington Tythe Book covers the period from July 1st 1902 to 1st January 1918. It is a record of tythes paid by landowners and tenants in the village.
The first page (below left) shows the record for Hardwicke Lloyd Hardwicke the Lord of the Manor.
