Many thanks to Roger Bailey for helpful information re axial gnomons although it's clear the problem of how they appeared in the west is still not totally understood. Also to Paul Murphy; I too have Duncan's book, The Calendar, and I too thought it was excellent. But Duncan's account of the 1752 riots (p.312) is of just the kind that Robert Poole in his History Today article refutes. In considering the Oxford and Bristol reports and Hogarth's painting (reproduced in the article) Poole believes there is no evidence to support the stories of riots.
The UK tax year used to end on Lady Day, 25 March. Since 1752 it has continued to end on old Lady Day, now 5 April, new style, 11 days later. The new tax year begins on 6 April. Because of this, nobody in 1752 paid taxes early but I believe many had to pay rent and leases early. And the great festivals, e.g. Christmas, were displaced in time and this too caused a good deal of grumbling and discontent. -- Frank Evans
