Hearth Tax 1662

Dorset HearthTax Returns 1662

Transcribed by R Crumbleholme and donated to the OPC Project

The above record is sorted into alphabetic order below.

The "j "- written at end of i,ii,iii etc is to show the end of the number.

Total number of Hearths = 49

Total number of house listed 26

Notes : This unpopular and shortlived tax was first levied in 1662 by Charles II to raise money. It was gathered by local village constables or tithing men and delivered to the Justice at the Quarter Sessions. Householders were liable to pay 2s per fireplace or stove unless their houses were valued at below 2s per year. The latter were exempt due to poverty (paup = pauper).

In 1663, a further Act required all hearths to be listed even if exempt. Stopt up = Stopped up chimneys if found resulted in doubling the tax

In Steepleton, Arthur Crofts would seem to own the largest house with 5 hearths followed by Mr Ironside (the vicar) with 4 hearths.

Source : Extract from printed volume below held in Dorchester County Museum, Dorchester C A F Meekings, Hearth Tax Returns, 1662 -64 Longmans 1951