Assessments in Madeley, and Abolition of the Chimney Tax or Smoke-Penny.
The Smoke-Penny, Chimney Tax, or Hearth-Money, previously alluded to, so oppressive to the poor, and so obnoxious generally, by exposing every man’s house to be entered and searched at pleasure, had become so unpopular that one of the earliest proceedings of the first Parliament of William and Mary was to substitute a grant in “aid,” of £68,820 per month, for six months, payable in proportions; the entire assessment for Shropshire being £1203, and those for the several parishes in the allotment of Madeley, at 12d. in the £, as under:—
| £ | s. | d. | |
| Madeley | 17 | 02 | 04 |
| Little Wenlock | 10 | 04 | 06 |
| Huntington | 03 | 11 | 10 |
| Beckbury | 05 | 09 | 02 |
| Badger | 03 | 13 | 06½ |
| £40 | 01 | 7½ |
The principle ever since continued of specific annual grants to the king by votes of Parliament, partially acted upon by Charles II., but wholly disregarded by the Parliament of the succeeding reign, was now fully established.