19Th Century Taxes

[Sellergarth]

Whilst researching the history of my local area I came across a copy of a book in which, under the heading "Assessed Taxes 1816", the following items per house were taxed:
Windows (6) 6 shillings and sixpence, Horse own use (1) 2 pounds 17 shillings and 6 pence, Horse @ 17/6 (1) 17 shillings and 6 pence, Greyhound (1) 1 pound, Occasional Groom (1) 10 shillings, Carriage Two Wheeled (1) 6 pounds 10 shillings, House Dog (1) 8 shillings.
There was also a reference to an allowance for children.
I have only found reference to Window Tax when I searched the internet. Could any of you good people out there shed any light on these taxes please?
Thank you.

[BayBoy1]

For Gods sake. i hope georgina osborne does not read this , he will turn the bedroom tax into a pillow tax ,or a snoring tax, or at least a double bed tax.

[Buenchico]

Addington's Act of 1803 would have applied at that time:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/history/taxhis1.htm
However, without access to the Schedules, I can't offer any help as to how your figures relate to it. Sorry!

[ABerrant]

For centuries Britons could countenance the imposition of a tax on income so a multitude of other revenue streams were developed (e.g. import/export duties; purchase duties; stamp taxes; property taxes). The "Assessed Taxes" were based on property other than that covered by Land Tax. William Pitt the Younger (who eventually brought in an income tax to help finance the Napoleonic Wars) was a prolific reformer and creator of the British tax regime and much of what you ask can be explained by researching his parliamentary life and times.

This may be a good starter...

http://www.taxadvisers.org.uk/content/view.cfm/downloads/BTR_04_2010_Pitt_and_his_taxes_Offprint1_1.pdf

[ABerrant]

^ For centuries Britons could NOT countenance...

[atalanta]

On some very old residences, you can still see evidence of windows being blocked up, which was done to avoid the window tax.

[1ndex]

Windows were bricked up to avoid tax.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Window_Tax.jpg

[Peter Pedant]

which (blocking of windows) or may not have caused a resurgence of TB

[jno]

that's interesting, Peter, I hadn't heard that before

[Sellergarth]

Many thanks to all who took the time to answer my question and for the links to some very interesting information. Brilliant!
BayBoy1, I agree, just hope the man holding the purse strings does`nt take a look at this site.
Thanks again to you all.

[Petergabriel]

All these taxes were based, obviously, on apparent wealth. The more you had the more you paid. Own Use was considered a luxury and did not form part of the 'business', therefore a tax was put on it. The parishes and vestries also had their own taxes - mainly to fill the coffers to give the poor some sustenance. there is quite a lot more on the internet about these - if you do some lateral thinking! The dog tax, for example, was used as a buffer against roving dogs killing livestock - the livestock owner was recompensed by his local governemnt.

[THECORBYLOON]

The 1803 act can be read here, http://archive.org/stream/actpassed11thaug00greaiala there are options on the LHS and the best one is the read online

[Sellergarth]

Petergabriel and THECORBYLOON, thank you for the additional information which I found very interesting and helpful. Greatly appreciated.