It operated alongside three lesser courts (those of General Surveyors (1540–1547), First Fruits and Tenths (1540-1554), and Wards and Liveries (1540–1660)) following the dissolution of the monasteries (1536 onwards).
The Court's primary function was to gain better control over the land and finances formerly held by the Roman Catholic Church in the Kingdom of England.
Generally, however, the properties and lands were simply sold off to wealthy lay people, with the Court of Augmentations set up to deal with the spoils.
On the annexation of the Court of Augmentations to the Exchequer in 1554, the twelve receiverships of land revenues of the counties of England and Wales in the employment of the former were incorporated in the latter.
[3] Particulars for the sale of a property that came to the Crown at the dissolution of the monasteries were produced by the auditors (who were appraisers) of the Court of Augmentations of the King's Revenue, created in 1536.