Census Information for Horsington
Introduction by Liz Hart
Census-taking of one type or another has been recorded for many centuries, including in the Christian Bible. In England the first census is arguably the Domesday Book, dated 1086. Following the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror had numerous reasons for wishing to know more about population size, wealth and land holdings for taxation purposes.
Censuses in later centuries varied, for example in the Tudor and Stuart periods responsibility for a form of census was given to Bishops who counted the number of families rather than individuals.
The first England and Wales census which we might recognize today was in 1801. During the period of the late 1700s to the early 1800s the study of population became one of the major concerns of the time due to the growing recognition of its relationship with political economy. By better understanding the population of a country, it was believed that it might be possible to address new and ongoing economic issues and improve governance of the country.
An interesting and interactive summary of the beginnings of the census in England and Wales can found on www.gov.uk. Search on History of the Census.
The census has always provided key information necessary to effectively govern a country. The one in 1801 for example enabled the government of the time to calculate approximately the numbers of able-bodied men who could participate in the Napoleonic Wars.
Since 1801 the England, Wales & Scotland Census has taken place in the UK every 10 years (except 1941 when it was not conducted due to the Second World War). In addition, the 1931 census was lost due to a fire which led in turn to the National Registration Act of 1939. This ‘census’ provided essential information for the Second World War such as the population size for such key requirements as the numbers required for the provision of ration cards used throughout the 1940s and early 1950s. Interestingly the data collected was also used in the 1940s to form the basis of the National Register that underpinned the formation of the NHS.
Each census was also organized on a legal framework passed via a separate Act of Parliament until the Census Act of 1920. Despite the legal context for the Census there have been occasions when there was deliberate non-participation for political reasons. In 1911 the Women’s Freedom League, a Suffragette organization, led a campaign to boycott the Census for that year in support of women’s suffrage.
What was recorded in the Census also changed considerably over time growing larger, more detailed, and including much additional socio-economic information.
What did the 1861 Census reveal about Horsington?
What did the 1881 Census reveal about Horsington?
What did the 1901 Census reveal about Horsington?
What did the 1911 Census reveal about Horsington?
What did the 1921 Census reveal about Horsington?