Tithes, (in theory 10% of a person's income) were taxes paid since the medieval period to support the priest of the parish church. Under the Tithe Commutation Act of 1836, tithes could be turned into a rent charge.

In villages where this happened a survey of the land was carried out and a large scale detailed plan was drawn up showing every house and area of land. Each plot was individually numbered. A book of reference, usually called the apportionment, lists the name of the owner and occupier of each plot of land, the acreage of the plot and its use (such as arable, pasture, wood, or house and garden).

These are often the earliest detailed maps that survive of a village and are of great use to archaeologists and historians.

Extract of Ash Tithe Map
Image: Surrey History Centre

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