The Shrivenham Tithe dispute

One of the ways that the church was funded in previous centuries was through tithes; money or produce that was payable by the local inhabitants. Over the centuries, it became more complicated and many disputes were caused by the confusion of just what was to be paid, how much and when. Eventually an act of goverment swept the tithe system away. 

This particular listing is interesting in that it is one of the earliest documents that involves Shrivenham. It is also interesting that it makes specific mention of what is a locale today called Beckett, but was then a small village or hamlet. It is dated to 1395 and mentions a recent pestilence, which is recorded historically in England in 1391.

This information comes from the Register of the Lord Bishop of Sarum.

To read the entry in detail please go HERE