Medieval Tallies

About Medieval Tallies

Notched willow sticks used to record debts in medieval England. The tally was split lengthwise, with the creditor and debtor each keeping half. When matched together, the halves verified the debt. Tallies were used to collect taxes and record loans to the Crown. The Bank of England used tallies until 1826. In 1834, the burning of old tallies in a stove overheated and burned down the Houses of Parliament, an event immortalized by Turner.