Platt Lane Dobcross

Image: © Paul Anderson Taken: 2 Jun 2007

This detached cottage stands by the side of Platt Lane between the villages of Delph and Dobcross in Saddleworth. Note the bricked up window this is because in 1696 in the reign of William III another form of taxation came into force which was known as the “Window Tax” and would last until 1851. The revenue derived from the tax in the first year of its levy amounted to £1,200,000 The tax would be paid on a house of more than six windows one way for a person to by pass the tax was to brick up one or two windows over the stated six, even today on many of the older houses around Saddleworth the bricked up windows are still there. In 1792 houses with 7-9 windows had to pay a tax of 2 shillings (20p), and those people with property containing 10-19 windows would pay a tax of 4 shillings (40p). In 1825 the number of windows taxable went from six to eight windows. The Window Tax would be replaced in 1851 with a tax called House Duty. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Window_tax

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