Domesday book, compiled in 1086 at the behest of william the conqueror, has been described as the most valuable piece of antiquity possessed by any nation david hume and viewed by historians as the final act of the norman conquest. While spending the christmas time of 1085 in gloucester, william had deep speech with his. Produced under the supervision of the most renowned domesday scholars, this authoritative translation of the complete domesday offers a. Domesday book 1086 the middle ages encompass one of the most exciting periods in english history. On this site you will find a growing collection of documentation for the original acornbbc domesday project as well as details of the domesday86 project itself. Doomsday book is a 1992 science fiction novel by american author connie willis. Then, at the midwinter 1085, was the king in gloucester with. Commissioned by william the conqueror in the year 1085 and finished in 1086, the book is a superb example of thorough and speedy administration, unequaled by any other project undertaken during the middle ages. Domesday book was the result of the great survey commissioned by william the conqueror at gloucester at christmas 1085. The written record of a census and survey of english landowners and their property made by order of william the conqueror in. Volume one, known as great or exchequer domesday, is an abbreviated version of the returns from 32 counties. The title of the book refers to the domesday book of 1086. What is known as domesday book is in fact a composite work in two volumes. It was written over nine hundred years ago under the orders of king william the conqueror.
The record was compiled in 10861087, a mere twenty years after the norman conquest, at the order of william the conqueror. There are some 418 towns and villages recorded in the domesday book, covering 40 of the old counties of england. T he domesday book is the result of a record made at the time of william the conquerors survey of england in 1086. By contemporaries the whole operation was known as the description of england, but the popular name domesdayi.
Great domesday covers parts of wales and most of modern england. 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. Sep 24, 2004 domesday book is one of the most famous documents in english historyand arguably in world history. Over 8,500 domesday book settlements are available to choose from giving a unique insight into our distanta past. Original folio of bedfordshire, page 1 in domesday book. Domesday book domesday book was unique in western europe and it set a standard. Domesday book is a manuscript record of the great survey of much of england and parts of. In fact there are two domesday books little domesday and about england in the 11th century. The survey was similar to a census by a government of today. Domesday book definition is a record of a survey of english lands and landholdings made by order of william the conqueror about 1086. The results of this survey were written into domesday book. Background information and images page 3 background information to the domesday book, ideal for introducing the subject to the class. Focus on domesday domesday book is one of the most famous historical records held by the national archives. Abraham farleys edition 17731783 domesday book was an item of great interest to the antiquarian movement of the 18th century.
Resources for scholars, students and anyone interested in domesday book. The domesday book online contents of the domesday book. Facsimile of the part relating to norfork by james, henry, sir, 18031877. Bedfordshire berkshire buckinghamshire cambridgeshire cheshire. Domesday book, or, the great survey of england of william the conqueror a. The novel won both the hugo and nebula awards, and was shortlisted for other awards. An electronic edition of the text for great domesday was published by phillimore as domesday explorer in 2000, edited by john palmer. Domesday book sources for research in english genealogy. Domesday86 is a project that aims to recreate the experience of the original bbc domesday project using modern hardware and software. Rename this file and keep as a backup, then place the downloaded version in the domesday explorer directory. This was the age of the county history, with many accounts of the english shires being published at this time, and domesday book, as a property record of early date that happened to be arranged by county, was a major source for the medieval history of all the. Translation, databases and scholarly commentary, 1086 bibliography this is not a reading list for domesday book and is in no way intended to supplant bates, a bibliography of domesday book 1986, which can be supplemented by hallam, some current. A complete translation domesday book is one of the most famous documents in english history.
It is the starting point of recorded history for the majority of english villages and towns which are organized by county. Domesday book definition of domesday book by the free. This document has been created by the history data service and is based on information supplied by the depositor sn. Translation, databases and scholarly commentary, 1086 bibliography this is not a reading list for domesday book and is in no way intended to supplant bates, a bibliography of domesday book 1986, which can be supplemented by hallam. Click on a county name on the map to continue, or use the list of links below it. While spending the christmas time of 1085 in gloucester, william had deep speech with his counsellors and sent men all over england to each shire to find.
To see full names of counties hold your mouse over the name. Domesday book is the oldest government record held in the national. The domesday book is actually not one book but two. While spending the christmas of 1085 in gloucester, william had deep speech. William needed information about the country he had just conquered so he could administer it. If youre looking for a free download links of the domesday book pdf, epub, docx and torrent then this site is not for you. The domesday book, our earliest public record, is a unique survey of the value and ownership of lands and resources in late 11th century england. A new translation for yorkshire is being prepared by caroline and frank thorn. By contemporaries the whole operation was known as the description of england, but the popular name domesday i. The name domesday book, commonly applied from the 12th century ce, may derive from doom, the term for a customary law in anglosaxon england, or be a reference to the day of judgement, referred to in the bibles book of revelation, reminding that the records in domesday book were final and could not be disputed. Domesday book is one of the most famous documents in english historyand arguably in world history. Translation of great domesday book folio 155v oxfordshire of the land of the manor of thame robert holds of the bishop 10 hides. Earl roger of shrewsbury bishop g eoffrey of coutances. Chichester, 19741992 the english translations for the great domesday counties, together with images of the latin text, are available in searchable form on cd, known as domesday explorer, published by phillimore and co.
The electronic text of little domesday is new to this edition. Now available in one volume, here is the complete, authoritative translation from the original latin, together with an index of places and a glossary of terms used. The detailed picture of the english landscape it offers has no equal in any country, while it is valuable not only in the picture it allows local historians to construct of their area in the eleventh century but also as the foundation document of the national archives. An english translation of the latin text for most counties was published by victoria county history vch. The majority of these still exist in some form today. Little domesday, which contains the information for essex, norfolk and suffolk, was probably written first and is the work of at least six scribes. Powerpoint ppt presentations, also available as pdf files, which highlight the. The text of domesday book, the record of the great survey of england completed in 1086 executed for william i of england, was first edited by abraham farley in the 1770s. William wanted to know how much his kingdom was worth and how much taxation he could command. The first facsimile edition of the manuscripts was made in a project led by the cartographer henry james in the 1860s. Domesday book domesday book is the oldest government record held in the national archives. Produced under the supervision of the most renowned domesday scholars, this authoritative translation of the complete domesdayoffers a remarkable portrait of.
For these three counties the full, unabbreviated return sent in to winchester by the commissioners is preserved in the second volume little domesday, which. One of the most important historical events of the medieval era is the domesday book. Domesday book by geoffrey martin, 9780141439945, download free ebooks, download free pdf epub ebook. Of the land of the manor of thame robert holds of the bishop 10 hides. The first volume great domesday contains the final summarized record of all the counties surveyed except essex, norfolk, and suffolk. A complete translation penguin classics new ed by martin, geoffrey isbn. Domesday book is one of the most famous historical records held by the national. Domesday book, the original record or summary of william is survey of england. A complete translation foreword by geoffrey martin 1,436pp, penguin classics. Facsimile of the part relating to norfork by james, henry, sir. Translation of anglosaxon chronicles a full translation of the medieval texts at. English to english translation of domesday book domesday book or.
The first, called little domesday, covers essex, norfolk, and suffolk. Tr introduction the first approach to a modern assessment roll or cataster is the well known domesday book. Domesday book synonyms, domesday book pronunciation, domesday book translation, english dictionary definition of domesday book. The national archives education service domesday book. Domesday 1986 now available online, after a long effort to save it from outdated videodiscs, the bbc domesday project aimed to record the state of britain 900 years after the original domesday survey. The domesday book or, colloquially, domesday is the expression used since the late twelfth century to refer to the record of the great inquisition or survey of the lands of england, their extent, value, ownership, and liabilities, made by order of william the conqueror in 1086. This first english census, considered by some as the most remarkable administrative accomplishment of the middle ages, provides a record of english social. Key stage 3 focus on domesday the national archives. In the interest of greater consistency but following the principles laid down by john morris, the text has been revised for this edition by caroline and frank thorn.
Little domesday, which contains the information for essex, norfolk and suffolk, was. 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 also known as domesday, or book of winchester was the record of the great survey of england completed in 1086, executed for william the conqueror. The existing literature on this remarkable memorial is so extensive, that it has not appeared advisable to quote largely from it. The original folios of domesday book, a complete survey of england written in ad 1086. The main manuscript, socalled great domesday, written by a single scribe, contains the final version of the surveys of all english counties south of the rivers ribble and tees, with the exception of norfolk, suffolk, and essex. 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. Great domesday contains most of the counties of england and was written by one scribe and checked by a second. An electronic transcription of the translation of domesday book for 33 counties yorkshire is omitted for reasons originally published by phillimore 197586 and edited by john morris and others.
In the year 1085, william the conqueror spent christmas at gloucester. The domesday book records details of a survey of land ownership and taxation that was completed in 1086 under the direction of william the conqueror. The page extracts consist of a high quality extract of the settlements entry in the book, a 6 page glossary and a translation into modern english. In august 2006 the contents of domesday went online, with an english translation of the book s latin. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The survey was executed for william i of england william the conqueror.