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 ('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)".
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.The Great Coxwell "Tithe Barn" was not really a tithe barn, according to English Heritage. The total number of surviving medieval barns (dated up to 1550) in Britain may be estimated about 200.
Aberford C of E Primary School, Aberford, Leeds (Aberford School was based on a redundant tithe barn) Bank Hall Barn, Bretherton, Lancashire The Bishop's Barn, Wells, Somerset Bishop's Cleeve Tithe Barn, Gloucestershire The Tithe Barn at Thyme, Southrop Estate Gloucestershire 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 The Great Barn, Ruislip, London The Great Barn, Titchfield The Great Barn, Wanborough, Surrey Great Coxwell Tithe Barn, Oxfordshire Haddenham tithe barn, Buckinghamshire Harmondsworth Great Barn, Harmondsworth, London Landbeach Tithe Barn, Landbeach, Cambridgeshire Middle Littleton tithe barn Nether Poppleton Tithebarn, City of York Parish Hall and Rectory Chapel, Freshwater, Isle of Wight Sextry Barn, Ely Swalcliffe Barn, Oxfordshire Tisbury Tithe Barn, Place Farm, Wiltshire Tithe Barn, Dunster Tithe Barn, Maidstone, Kent Tithe Barn, Manor Farm, Doulting, Somerset Tithe Barn, Pilton, Somerset Upminster Tithe Barn, Upminster, London Upper Heyford tithe barn, Oxfordshire 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)
Scotland Barn Church, Culloden
Germany
In German, a tithe barn is a Zehntscheune or Zehentstadel. In small towns these are commonly found in small towns, where they have frequently been redeployed for other purposes.
Castle of Lissingen, Rhineland-Palatinate
France Ardenne Abbey in Saint-Germain-la-Blanche-Herbe (12th century) Chenu (13th century) Dammarie-en-Puisaye Écouen (14th–17th century)
Grange de Meslay Grange dimière, Tremblay-en-France (13th century) Maroilles Abbey (1735) Maubuisson Abbey (13th century) Perrières (13th Century), listed as a Monument historique. Priory of Le Mont Saint-MichelPrieuré du Mont-Saint-Michel Site Pelerin-montsaintmichel.org (Ardevon) Samoreau (13th century) Silve Bénite in Le Pin (12th century) Wallers Wissous (13th century)
Belgium 13th-century tithe barn of Ter Doest Abbey Herkenrode Abbey near Hasselt
Switzerland Fürstenhaus Berneck in Berneck, St. Gallen
See also Bishop's storehouse Staddle stones: Function Tithe map
Notes and references
Further reading
External links
Photographs of tithe barns on geograph.org.uk