Original 1877 Rate Book for Bishop's Hull, Somerset
With handwritten entries of all residents
Author
Publisher
Printing Details
This is an original rate book record for the village of Bishop's Hull in Somerset. Bound in limp cloth and measuring 33 × 16cm, with gilt- and blindstamped titling to front cover. Printed by Knight & Co of London. It consists of a record of the village in late 1877 and lists the occupants, the parish in which they live, type of house, and rateable value, monies collected.
The book starts with handwritten entries describing the purpose of the book, and officials conducting the survey before about 70 pages of handwritten entries. An example is the first entry:
Name: Chearley, Albert, name of owner (of property): Walter Pritchard; description of property rated: house and land; name or situation of property: Rose Mount Village; estimated extent: 3A, 11R, 32P [A,R,P is acres, roods, poles]. The details continue on the opposing page giving rental value, rateable value, amount to be / collected, and where relevant, any amount excused.
There are, on average, 15 names per page, and 36 pages (only numbered to recto), so there are good couple of hundred names. The majority tenants, but naming the landlords, this is a fascinating record of Somerset village life in the 1870s.
The book ends with a summing up (£165,000 collected of £165,000), and has the official government audit district stamp, and the final manuscript page is a handwritten declaration by the overseers that all is correct.
Condition
This item is in good condition for age. The covers of the book are frayed to the edges, a little turned in at the corners and with some fading but the contents are in good clean condition.
Price
£100.00
