31. The Tithe Map of 1842
The Tithe map of 1842 delineates every field in the Parish giving the field a reference number. There even exists a separate schedule listing the field numbers with the corresponding name of the field and who was farming it at the time rather than who owned it.
The farmers had to pay a tithe which was ten per cent of the produce in the form of grain.
Tithes were a deeply unpopular tax. So much produce resulted from the tax that the church had to build huge tithe barns in order to store the grain.
Peasants had to work for free on church land which was highly inconvenient. The power of the church was so great, no one dared to break the rule as they believed God would see their sins and punish them.
Until 1882 large swathes of Harley Parish were held as part of Wenlock Parish.
By 1842 the transitions to large farms was virtually complete. 1250 acres lay in five farms of over 100 acres in the Parish. There were also five holdings of 10 to 100 acres and 15 holdings of less than 10 acres these being centered on a house.
Also in Harley in 1846, 8 acres north of the Kenley road were allotments with 14 tenants.
My grandfather was born in Harley at the farm in wig wig ,he moved to the Black Country early 1900s looking for work ,he worked as a drayman at Mitchell’s and butlers.
The family all used to say that at one time they owned most of shropshire
We don’t have any idea how they lost it ,but they were all quite bitter about it. I believe it now belongs to the Estates.my great aunt Ann Hughes was the school mistress in Wenlock .Hope this is interesting