RETURN OF OWNERS OF LAND SUSSEX 1873 CD ROM

In the House of Lords on 19th of February 1872, the Earl of Derby asked the Lord Privy Seal (Viscount Halifax) whether it was the intention of Her Majesty's Government to take any steps for ascertaining accurately the number of proprietors of land and houses in the United Kingdom, with the quantity of land owned by each proprietor.

After considerable delay the Return was prepared and was published for Her Majesty's Stationery Office in 1875 by George Edward Eyre and William Spottiswoode, the Queen's Printers.

The Return shows the name and address of owners; the holding, in acres, roods and poles, and the estimated yearly rental, for all holdings over 1 acre.

For those too young to remember, there are 640 acres in 1 square mile, a rood was a ploughing strip 220 yards long (1 furlong) and 5.5 yards wide; 4 roods make 1 acre. A pole is 30.25 square yards; 40 square poles comprise 1 rood. Rental is in £ (pound) and s (shilling); 20 shillings comprise £1.

©GGB