Milk Street, about
1930 (Ref. PX215)
Rate Books are a really useful source for house history.
They are arranged street-by-street and name
the occupier and sometimes the owner of each address.
They also show the rates paid. There are two main
series:
- City rate books, 1766-1963. The city rate was
originally collected to provide amenities such as lighting, paving
and policing. Until the twentieth century, the rate books
cover only the city centre.
- Parish poor rate books. The parish poor rate was collected from
all householders to provide funds for poor relief. For most
parishes, rate books survive from the late 18th/early 19th
centuries. For a full list follow this link.