Catalogue description Valuation Books ("Domesday" Books) under the Finance Act, 1910.

In addition to the main series of field books and record maps, additional records were generated as part of the valuation process. The valuation books, also known as "Domesday Books", are held in local record offices and those for Staffordshire are listed in the following papers. Although the valuation books give similar information to that contained within the field books, they lack any description of land and premises and are therefore limited in their usefulness. In order to tie up a property recorded in the valuation books, it is necessary to note the hereditament number, recorded in the left hand column, and the parish in which the property was located.

Transferred from the Public Record Office

• Staffordshire

Finance Act 1910

The Finance Act of 1910 allowed the government to levy various duties on land, principally Increment Value Duty. The basis for the calculation of duty was a complex one and farming land was exempted, if its value was no greater than its current value on the agricultural market.

To enable the necessary information to be supplied for the calculation of duty, the Act also provided for a valuation of all land in the United Kingdom. This included land which might eventually be declared to be exempted from duty. The process of valuation began in 1914 and was completed by late 1915. It was carried out locally by the valuation officers located within the 118 valuation districts.

Records of the 1914/1915 Valuation

Initially forms (Form 4) were issued to all landowners and there were penalties for non-completion. The information supplied on the forms was then transcribed into a field book by the valuer and this was followed up by a physical inspection. Record maps were also drawn up showing each property and piece of land to be valued. The field books are now deposited at the Public Record Office in London (Class IR/58) as are the record maps. The record maps for Staffordshire are incomplete. Detailed information on the field books and record maps is available in the Public Record Office Readers' Guide No. 9, Maps for Family Historians, available in the reading room.

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