Tithe Surveys of Longcott & Fernham 1837 - 1838

The Tithe Commutation Act of 1836 brought about a huge flurry of surveys and maps in the immediate proceeding years. The purpose of the Act was to do away with the complex and confusing business of Tithe payments that originated in the previous medieval period. This often required payments in produce or kind and became the source of many disputes and was very unpopular. The Act set about converting such payments into a monetary payment known as Tithe rent-charge. It specifically necessitated a systematic, nationwide effort to map and value agricultural land and was often produced in the form of a map and an apportionment book that explained the details on the map. Huge numbers of maps and books were produced but alas, many were often seperated or lost.

These two survey apportionment books would have had a map to be used for their explanation and may yet be discovered.

The Longcott survey was carried out by John Fairthorne who was a Churchwarden and prominent villager. The Fairthornes were well-known farmers and land owners who became very weatlthy, especially in Shrivenham. The Fernham survey was caried out by James Fidel who was also a well-known Land Agent from Faringdon.