Project to digitise Yorkshire tithe maps: Conservation  and digitisation of Tithe maps of Leeds underway

West Yorkshire archives has a grant to digitise all the tithe maps of Yorkshire that they hold. They then aim to create a database of the accompanying apportionment information and make both the map and text available to view on-line. Some transcriptions have been ongoing on this project for the last year.

In April 2008, BBC Leeds reported that the West Yorkshire Archive Service had been awarded a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £161,500 to preserve 58 tithe maps with apportionments that cover large areas of what is now Leeds. The maps had been stored in less than ideal conditions for much of their 150-year existence and were in definite need of TLC before they disintegrated 

 Useful links

Cheshire tithe map project update

Tithe maps and their value in family history research  

The tithe maps of Headlingley in Leeds were in poor condition - find out more from BBC Leeds by clicking on the picture.

Much of the conservation work has been done and the staff at the archives are working with teams of volunteers to digitise and transcribe the information to make it accessible to people interested in local history and family history.

The maps cover the period between 1839 and 1850, which was a time of explosive industrial growth in Leeds. As well as finding out about the past, the maps are still in regular use for modern enquiries such as public rights of way, land use, field names and environmental planning. Having digitised maps and a digital searcheable index will make these searches much easier., family history, family tree, ancestry, tithe maps, maps, cheshire record

Cheshire has already obtained funding to digitise all its tithe maps and their Cheshire tithe map project goes live at the end of June. There are various demonstration sessions about the Cheshire tithe maps in Cheshire through May and June - for details see our news page on the latest status of the Cheshire tithe map project.  

We have also detailed general information about tithe maps and their value in family history research.