HC Deb 10 May 1895 vol 33 cc914-5
MR. A. C. MORTON (Peterborough)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether his attention has been called to the statement made by the historian of Breconshire, Theophilus Jones (History of Breconshire, vol. iii. p. 709), that at the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries Henry VIII. granted the tithes of the parish of Llanspyttid, in the county of Brecon, previously held by the Priory of Great Malvern, to Sir John Price, his Commissioner in Wales, who undertook the dispensation of them towards pious and charitable uses; and, whether he will cause search to be made for the King's Grant, so that on examination it may be ascertained whether the grant of tithes in this particular case to the King's Commissioner was accompanied with the condition or trust stated, that the tithes should still be devoted and dispensed towards pious and charitable uses?

*MR. HERBERT GARDNER

My attention has been called to the statement to which my hon. Friend refers, but I have no means of informing myself as to its accuracy, nor have I any power to institute a search for the Grant said to have been made by King Henry VIII. The matter appears to be one which might be brought under the notice of the Charity Commissioners, if, as I understand, it is suggested that property devoted to pious and charitable uses has been alienated therefrom.

MR. A. C. MORTON

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether any convenient list is extant of the Grants of tithes made by Henry VIII. to lay owners; and, if not, whether he will cause such list to be prepared?

*MR. HERBERT GARDNER

I am unaware of the existence of any convenient list of the Grants of tithes made by King Henry VIII., nor have I either the means or the power of compiling one. The Board of Agriculture are not in possession of any information on the subject of tithes prior to their Commutation in 1836, when the Tithe Commission was called into existence.

MR. A. C. MORTON

asked if his right hon. Friend would inform him who had this information if the Board of Agriculture had not?

*MR. GARDNER

I should be glad to tell my hon. Friend if I knew myself.

MR. C. J. DARLING (Deptford)

Is not the information perfectly open the hon. Member if he will take the trouble to go to the Record Office?