Tithe barns in Europe

File:Jesberg Zehntscheune.jpg

Former tithe barn in Jesberg, Germany

File:Zehntscheune Jesteburg.JPG

Tithe barn in Jesteburg, Germany

A tithe barn was a type of barn used in much of northern Europe in the Middle Ages for storing rents and tithes. Farmers were required to give one-tenth of their produce to the established church. Tithe barns were usually associated with the village church or rectory, and independent farmers took their tithes there. The village priests did not have to pay tithes—the purpose of the tithe being their support. Some operated their own farms anyway. The former church property has sometimes been converted to village greens.

Many were monastic barns, originally used by the monastery itself or by a monastic grange. The word 'grange' is (indirectly) derived from Latin Template:Lang ('granary'). Identical barns were found on royal domains and country estates.

The medieval aisled barn was developed in the 12th and 13th centuries, following the examples of royal halls, hospitals and market halls. Its predecessors included Roman horrea and Neolithic long houses.

According to English Heritage, "exactly how barns in general were used in the Middle Ages is less well understood than might be expected, and the subject abounds with myths (for example, not one of England's surviving architecturally impressive barns was a tithe barn, although such barns existed)".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Examples

England

Medieval

There are surviving examples of medieval barns in England, some of them known as "tithe barns". English Heritage established criteria to determine if barns were used as tithe barns.<ref name=GreatCoxwellNote>The Great Coxwell "Tithe Barn" was not really a tithe barn, according to English Heritage.</ref> The total number of surviving medieval barns (dated up to 1550) in Britain may be estimated about 200.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

• Aberford C of E Primary School, Aberford, Leeds (Aberford School was based on a redundant tithe barn)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Bank Hall Barn, Bretherton, Lancashire
• The Bishop's Barn, Wells, Somerset
• Bishop's Cleeve Tithe Barn, Gloucestershire<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Bradford on Avon Tithe Barn, Wiltshire
• Carlisle Tithe Barn
• Church of the Holy Ghost, Midsomer Norton, Somerset
• The Corbett Theatre, Loughton, which was the tithe barn at Ditchling
• Cressing Temple
• East Riddlesden Hall (National Trust)
• The Great Barn, Bourn<ref name="Medieval Bourn">Template:Cite journal</ref>
• The Great Barn, Ruislip, Middlesex
• The Great Barn, Titchfield
• The Great Barn, Wanborough, Surrey
• Great Coxwell Tithe Barn, Oxfordshire<ref name=GreatCoxwellNote />
• Harmondsworth Great Barn, Harmondsworth, Middlesex
• Landbeach Tithe Barn, Landbeach, Cambridgeshire<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Middle Littleton tithe barn
• Nether Poppleton Tithebarn, City of York
• Parish Hall and Rectory Chapel, Freshwater, Isle of Wight<ref name="IoW-LLB">Template:Cite web</ref>
• Sextry Barn, Ely
• Swalcliffe Barn, Oxfordshire
• Tisbury Tithe Barn, Place Farm, Wiltshire <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Tithe Barn, Dunster<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Tithe Barn, Maidstone, Kent
• Tithe Barn, Manor Farm, Doulting, Somerset
• Tithe Barn, Pilton, Somerset
• Upminster Tithe Barn, Upminster, Essex
• Upper Heyford tithe barn, Oxfordshire
• Haddenham tithe barn, Buckinghamshire
• West Pennard Court Barn

Later

There are many extant barns that date from after the Medieval period and may be called "tithe barns" by their owners or councils. These include:

• Loseley Park tithe barn (17th century)
• Melling Tithebarn, Merseyside (c. 18th century)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Scotland

• Barn Church, Culloden

Germany

• Castle of Lissingen, Rhineland-Palatinate

France

• Grange dimière, Tremblay-en-France<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Grange de Meslay
• Priory of Le Mont Saint-Michel<ref>Prieuré du Mont-Saint-Michel Site Pelerin-montsaintmichel.org</ref> (Ardevon).
• Silve Bénite in Le Pin (12th century).
• Écouen (14th–17th century<ref>Template:Mérimée</ref>).
• Ardenne Abbey in Saint-Germain-la-Blanche-Herbe (12th century).
• Samoreau (13th century).
• Maubuisson Abbey (13th century).
• Tremblay-en-France (13th century).
• Wissous (13th century).
• Chenu (13th century).
• Dammarie-en-Puisaye.<ref>Template:Base Mérimée</ref>
• Maroilles Abbey (1735).
• Wallers.

Belgium

• 13th-century tithe barn of Ter Doest Abbey
• Herkenrode Abbey near Hasselt

See also

• Bishop's storehouse
• Staddle stones: Function
• Tithe map

Further reading

• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite journal
• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite book

External links

• Photographs of tithe barns on geograph.org.uk