Find out how it was compiled, and what it reveals about life in. There is also limited coverage of parts of the north, and durham and northumberland are omitted entirely due doubtless to the fact that the william had had. Frequently asked questions the domesday book online. He could collect in terms of taxes and the results of this survey were. Media in category domesday book the following 38 files are in this category, out of 38 total. It usually covered one village, but could cover several and the surrounding area. An example of a leaf from the domesday book, the image shows the. Pages in category domesday book the following 15 pages are in this category, out of 15 total. The domesday book online frequently asked questions. Facsimile of the part relating to norfork by james, henry, sir. Williams reasons for compiling the domesday book will never be known for. Domesday book great domesday the national archives. The national archives is the home of domesday book, the oldest surviving public record. Key stage 3 focus on domesday the national archives.
The domesday survey covered all of england as it existed in 1086, which included a. The county of suffolk, for example, is shown to have had its lands. William wanted to know how much his kingdom was worth and how much taxation he could command. Domesday book is a detailed survey and valuation of landed property in england at the end. It was ordered by william the conqueror the winner of the recent battle of hastings so that william could determine how much money in taxes he could raise and to give william a better sense of the territory he had just conquered. It was written over nine hundred years ago under the orders of king william the conqueror. Domesday book was a comprehensive survey and record of all the landowners, property, tenants and serfs of medieval norman england which was compiled in 10867 ce under the orders of william the conqueror r. Domesday book, or, the great survey of england of william the conqueror a.
Domesday book, or, the great survey of england of william. An overview of how the normans started to control britain, starting with the domesday book. There were 357 places in the county of staffordshire in domesday book. The national archives is the home of domesday book, the oldest surviving public. Lets look and learn from 50 fascinating book cover designs. The domesday book also known as domesday, or book of winchester was a record of all taxable land in england, together with such information as would indicate its worth. One of the most important historical events of the medieval era is the domesday book. Below are some of the most commonly asked questions about the domesday book please read the information before you contact us with a. Domesday book refers to the census or survey of englands landholdings, buildings, people and livestock.
Little domesday covering norfolk, suffolk, and essex, and great domesday covering much of the remainder of englandexcept for lands in the north that later became westmorland, cumberland, northumberland, and the county palatine of durhamand parts of wales bordering, and included within, english. How many books make up the whole of the domesday survey. The precise purpose of the enterprise is not known but the most likely reason was to determine who legally owned what land, to settle disputes of ownership and to measure. Domesday book, the original record or summary of william is survey of england. Some examples of what can be learnt from the information in the domesday book can be. A successfully designed book cover will convey the tone of your book, will whisper hints without giving it all away, and will excite readers into actually opening up the book and reading. Domesday book is a manuscript record of the great survey of much of england and parts of. The domesday account for the county of berkshire, for example, begins with the. For example, search for elthorne and domesday or folio 254r and domesday. Domesday is now available online, and you can search for your town or village, and download images of domesday along with an english translation of the entry.
The basis of this electronic edition of the text is the translation published by phillimore and edited by john morris 35 volumes, chichester, 197386, with the following modifications. The domesday book is the record of the great survey of much of england, and parts of wales, completed in 1086, done for william i of england, or william the conqueror. Domesday book the domesday book was a survey designed to record everything that people owned in england. For example, the section of the devonshire chapter concerning baldwin the sheriff. The world of domesday exhibition depicts life in 11th century england.
Produced at amazing speed in the years after the conquest, the domesday book provides a vivid picture of late 11thcentury england. The counties of durham and northumberland are omitted, and coverage of. The survey was ordered and taken during the time of william the conqueror. Focus on domesday domesday book is one of the most famous historical records held by the national archives. Domesday book encompasses two independent works in, originally, two physical volumes. The domesday book compiled in 10856 is one of the few historical records. The 832 pages or manuscript folios of the document are covered on both. In 1086 william made a land register of his territory to know how much money. Domesday book was a comprehensive survey and record of all the landowners. Domesday book 1086 the middle ages encompass one of the most exciting periods in english history. These 50 awesome book covers will inspire you learn. By contemporaries the whole operation was known as the description of england, but the popular name domesday i. Melvyn bragg and his guests discuss the domesday book, a vast survey of the land and property of much of england and wales completed in 1086.