The photograph at the top of the page shows the National Trust's Great Coxwell Tithe Barn in Oxfordshire.

Tithe barns were used by the Christian church (Catholic before 1534, Church of England afterwards) to store 10% of everything produced on the land: crops and animals. Everyone, religious or not, was legally forced to pay this tax (or "tithe") which was used to fund the local Rector (priest) and his church. Tithing existed in this form until 1836 when cash replaced crops and animals. It finally ended in 1977.

An example of a tithe map, and details of the tithes to be paid, may be seen here.