Which tax on household hearths was introduced in England in 1662?

The hearth tax was introduced in England in 1662 as a levy on household fireplaces and stoves.

Parliament created the tax during the reign of Charles II. Householders generally paid for each hearth, making the number of fireplaces a rough indicator of household resources. Officials called hearth collectors or chimney men were responsible for identifying taxable hearths and collecting the charge.

The tax was unpopular because officials often entered homes to inspect hearths, and because it affected households differently depending on the size and design of their buildings. Poor households could sometimes receive exemptions, but enforcement and local practice varied.

The hearth tax was abolished in 1689 after the Glorious Revolution. It is often confused with Britain’s later window tax, introduced in 1696. Both used features of a house as a proxy for wealth, but the hearth tax focused on fireplaces and stoves.