Hearth Tax

Hearth Tax was, as the name suggests, a tax on hearths or chimneys. It was introduced after the restoration of the monarchy by Charles II in 1662. The charge was 1/- per half year payable on Lady Day, 25 March (at that time New Years Day) and at Michaelmas, 29 September. Tax was charged on the house occupier rather than the owner. The less well off, Paupers and those living in houses worth 20/- a year or less, who paid neither Church rates nor Poor rates were exempt on certification by the vicar and churchwardens. It was abolished in 1689.

The information on this page is taken from an extremely well researched publication 'The Hearth Tax Returns for the Isle of Wight, 1664 to 1674 published in 1981 by the Isle of Wight Record Office. All names are taken from this and have not been amended in any way.

The tax was collected by Tithings, which were effectively small administrative units. Shalfleet had three basic ones, Shalfleet, Watchingwell and Ningwood. Wellow was included in Thorley and Hulverstone in Mottistone. I only include 1665 for the latter two tithings as it is not possible to determine who lived in Shalfleet parish.

Year ending Lady Day 1664

Year ending Lady Day 1665

Note: Numbers are given in Roman Numerals in the actual document. The Shalfleete total is incorrect and should be 49.

Mottistone and Thorley 1665

Exemption Certificates 1670-1

We the Minister of the Parish of Shalfleett in ye Isle of Wight and County of South and Churchwardens and Overseers in ye same Isle and County doe hereby Certifie unto his Majesties Justices of the Peace for the said Isle and County That we doe believe That the respective Houses wherein the persons hereunder named doe Inhabit are not of greater vallue then twenty shillings per annum upon the full Improved rent, And than neither the person so inhabiting, nor any other using the same Messuages hath, useth, or Occupieth any Lands or Tenements of their own or others of the yearly vallue of Twenty shillings per annum, Nor hath any Lands, Tenements, Goods or Chattels of the vallue of Ten pounds in their own Possession, or in the Possession of any other in trust for them. And that the said houses have not above two Chimneys, Fire-hearthes and stoves in them respectively. Witness our hands this first day of March 1670.

Year and a half ending Lady Day 1673

Year ending Lady Day 1674

Shalfleet Sources

Note: These pages are my transcriptions, they are accurate to the best of my ability but I do not take any responsibility for errors.

25 March 2006