Wales Hearth Tax Assessments

A tax of a shilling for each fireplace or stove (except those of paupers) was collected twice a year from 1662 to 1689. Records exist for much of Wales, showing the name and number of hearths in each residence. The names of those who were exempt were included from 1663. Records of 1662 to 1666 and 1669 to 1674 are in the National Archives. The other years are among records of quarter sessions.

A good listing of available hearth tax records is in:

Gibson, J, (1996) The hearth tax, and other later Stuart tax lists and the association oath rolls, Federation of Family History Societies, which is available at the Family History Library or can be purchased from a bookshop.

Published Hearth Tax Lists for Wales

 * Faraday, M.A. (1989-91). The Radnorshire hearth tax return of 1670, Transactions of the Radnorshire Society, LIX, 29-58; LX, 66-89;LXI,76-89.
 * Parry, O. (1953-6). The hearth tax of 1662 in Merioneth, Merioneth Historical and Record Society, 2.
 * Parkinson, E. (1994) The Glamorgan hearth tax assessment of 1670, South Wales Record Society, 10, Cardiff [?].
 * (1920-3,1924, and 1926). Pembrokeshire hearths in 1670, West Wales Historical Records.

Microfilm and Manuscript Hearth Tax Records for Denbighshire, 1670-71, is available on FHL microfilm 827861 item 2, or in manuscript at the National Library of Wales NLW# 18033C.

Web Sites

 * Hearth Tax: http://www.roehampton.ac.uk/hearthtax/
 * National Library of Wales: http://www.llgc.org.uk/
 * National Archives of the United Kingdom: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/