Records of the Isle of Man Rolls Office: Tithe Commutation Plans

This series consists of 2939 individually hand drawn plans showing land held by landowners on the Isle of Man, circa 1840. The plans were originally lodged with the Isle of Man Rolls Office under The Tithe Commutation Act 1839.

The plans were pasted onto paper or linen for binding with each bound volume containing a separate parish. Some parishes do extend over more than one volume. The plans are numbered sequentially within each parish volume.

The plans come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, from two inch square to over two foot by four foot. Some are highly decorated and coloured, while others are very rudimentary. Any plan larger than the volume had to be folded, sometimes several times and in several directions.

Tithe Commutation plans were created by an Act for the Commutation of Tithes in the Isle of Man in 1839 (The Tithe Commutation Act 1839).

The Tithe Commutation Act 1839 meant that agricultural tithes paid to the Church were commutated to an annual cash payment based on the valuation of property. Unlike English tithe plans of a similar date, each property on the Isle of Man was surveyed and drawn separately. Although most plans date from circa 1840, some landowners submitted earlier plans. All landowners were required to furnish the valuers with a map, plan or survey of the extent, contents and bounds of any lands under their consideration. The valuers issued a number to every map, plan or survey they received.

All the tithe estimate and valuation information was entered into volumes, one for each parish. The volumes, maps, plans and surveys were delivered to a specially convened Exchequer Court at Castle Rushen on 19 February 1841. The records were then deposited into the Rolls Office and were open to inspection for thirty days to allow the public to register any objections. After any required amendments, the Lieutenant Governor ordered and directed competent persons to divide and apportion the said composition of £5575. This information was then entered into the 'Tithe Composition Book'. The Book after being examined, corrected and confirmed by the Court of Appeal was then deposited in the Rolls Office on 10 April 1841.

Plans are arranged in numerical order within each parish volume.

This series is open. For information on visiting the Isle of Man Public Record Office please see our website: www.gov.im/pro .

Please see our website for catalogues: www.gov.im/pro .

Copies held at the Isle of Man Public Record Office:

• S3 - Tithe plan Microfiche copies
• S3 - Tithe Plan Colour Transparencies

Copies held elsewhere:

• Isle of Man Land Registry: Digital copies of Tithe plans: https://www.gov.im/categories/home-and-neighbourhood/deeds-probate-and-land-registries/land-registry/woods-atlas/

Series level description created by James Holmes, UCM Intern, in May 2019 under supervision by Gavin Rowan, Records & Archive Officer.

All plans transferred to the Isle of Man Public Record Office have been preserved.

Records comprising this accession were originally lodged with the Isle of Man Rolls Office, which in 1965 was amalgamated within General Registry. The records were later consigned at the Public Record Office on 22 Aug 2000 under section 3(8) of the Public Record Act 1999. The records were fully transferred on 13 Jun 2014 under section 3(4) of the Public Record Act 1999.

No accruals are expected.

Also held at the Isle of Man Public Record Office:

• S106 – Records of the Isle of Man Rolls Office: Tithe Parish Registers;
• S107 – Records of the Isle of Man Rolls Office: Tithe Composition Book.