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Washington Tithes 1840s

Tithe Commissioners and Surveyors drew the first accurate maps of Washington in the 1840s in order to calculate the value of tithes- ancient charges payable to the Church of England, and, after The Reformation, to landowners who had taken over church lands. Future payments would be monetary rather than in kind. With the mapping were reports of who owned and occupied the land, the value of crops and the ‘apportioning’ of rent charges.

These surveys took place throughout England but Durham University has made those for the county available online- Durham Diocesan Records: Catalogue of records of episcopal administration

This article extracts the maps and reproduces the tables for the five townships in the parish of Washington- Washington, Great Usworth, Little Usworth, Barmston and North Biddick, plus parts of the maps, but not the tables, of Harraton, Penshaw and South Biddick that are now in modern Washington. Missing is the survey of that part of Hylton up to the A19 that is now in Washington.

This collection gives us a fascinating glimpse into the historic layout of Washington, just before it became dominated by the then nascent mining, chemicals and metal working industries. It is also the most comprehensive record of farmers in Washington at that time.