Domesday book encompasses two independent works in, originally, two physical volumes. It is not known when exactly domesday book was compiled, but the entire copy of great domesday appears to have been copied out by one person on parchment prepared sheepskin, although six scribes seem to have been used for little domesday. Winchester was the norman capital as it had been of the saxons, so the treasury was there at that time. Produced under the supervision of the most renowned domesday scholars, this authoritative translation of the complete domesday offers a. The domesday book article about the domesday book by the. The domesday book is a great land survey which was compiled in 1086.
Domesday book definition, a record of a survey of the lands of england made by order of william the conqueror about 1086, giving ownership, extent, value, etc. Domesday book woodbridge, 1999 a list of corrections to this and the companion volume, compiled by rosie bevan, is available on the foundation for medieval genealogy website. David roffe asks why exactly domesday book, the oldest and most precious of the english public records, was compiled and for whom but because the domesday book can still be used in british courts for property disputes, online access is probably worth a whole lot more. This fiscal view of domesday held the field for almost half a century until v. While spending the christmas of 1085 in gloucester. The written record of a census and survey of english landowners and their property made by order of william the conqueror in 10851086. Domesday book was a comprehensive survey and record of all the landowners, property. 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 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 as the scribes went round england. Domesday book definition and meaning collins english dictionary. It is not known when exactly domesday book was compiled, but the entire copy of great domesday appears to have been copied out by one person on parchment prepared sheepskin, although six scribes seem to.
While spending the christmas time of 1085 in gloucester, william had deep. It was commissioned by william the conqueror to assess the extent of the land and resources being owned in england at the time and therefore the extent of the taxes he could raise. While spending christmas of 1085 in gloucester, william had deep speech with his counsellors and sent men. Produced under the supervision of the most renowned domesday scholars, this authoritative translation of the complete domesdayoffers a. During the last years of his reign, king william the conqueror had his power threatened from a number of quarters. In the 11th century, surnames were still in a state of flux and many people still did not have what we would consider a surname. By contemporaries the whole operation was known as the description of england, but the popular name domesday i. The domesday book was an incredibly useful resource and for many years, centuries, it was the final word on the title to land. The first volume great domesday contains the final summarized record of all the counties surveyed except essex, norfolk, and suffolk. Domesday book, the original record or summary of william is survey of england.
Domesday book definition of domesday book by the free dictionary. Domesday book is one of the most famous documents in english historyand arguably in world history. Domesday survey synonyms, domesday survey antonyms. Domesday book definition of domesday book by merriamwebster. 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. Domesday book article about domesday book by the free. Domesday book in american english the record of a survey of england made under william the conqueror in 1086, listing all landowners and showing the value and extent of their holdings websters new world college dictionary, 4th edition.
The doomsday book article about the doomsday book by the. The domesday book is now held in the national archives at kew. The set of questions that these officers asked of the town and county representatives constituted the inquisitio eliensis. A prosopography of persons occurring in english documents 10661166. While this is mainly true, the domesday now has a mystical. Learn more about out why and how domesday was created, and how to interpret it, in discover domesday. The domesday book was commissioned in december 1085 by william the conqueror, who invaded england in 1066. William needed information about the country he had just conquered so he could administer it. The domesday book is actually not one book but two. The domesday book synonyms, the domesday book antonyms.
Domesday article about domesday by the free dictionary. The domesday book was compiled on the orders of william the conquerer to catalogue the ownership and value of land in the newly conquered territories of england. The other, great domesday, covers much of the remainder of england and parts of wales, except for lands in the north that later became westmorland, cumberland, northumberland and the county palatine of durham. The domesday book online compiling the domesday book. It has been cited as an example of digital obsolescence on account of the physical medium used for data storage. Domesday book dictionary definition domesday book defined. The domesday book legal definition of the domesday book. The domesday book is closely linked with william the conquerors attempt to dominate medieval england. Tr introduction the first approach to a modern assessment roll or cataster is the well known. The written record of a census and survey of english landowners and their property made by order of william the conqueror in. One of the most important historical events of the medieval era is the domesday book.
The domesday book stands out in comparison to all other sources from this time. Harvey states in her paper domesday book and anglonorman governance, many of the nearcontemporary texts have suffered because all have been turned into domesday satellites. Earl roger of shrewsbury bishop g eoffrey of coutances. The information collected was recorded by hand in two huge books, in the space of around a year.
Winchester was the norman capital as it had been of the saxons, so. Domesday book is a manuscript record of the great survey of much of england and parts of. The saxon chronicle records that in 1085 at gloucester the king had deep speech with his counsellors sent men all over england to each shire to find out what or how much each landholder held. Surnames mentioned in the domesday book british surnames.
Domesday book was compiled as a description of all england or all of. The first draft was completed in august 1086 and contained records for,418 settlements in the english counties south of the rivers ribble and tees the border with scotland at the time. Domesday book definition of domesday book by the free. Earnest and resourceful, william was not only one of the greatest of english monarchs but a pivotal figure in european history as well. Little domesday records for essex, norfolk and suffolk which were the final locations for the commissioners work.
To further extend his grip on england, william i ordered that. Galbraith pointed out that however the inquest was conducted, domesday book itself is organised on feudal principles which make it all but useless as a tax gathering or tax reforming document. 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. 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 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. Produced at amazing speed in the years after the conquest, the domesday book provides a vivid picture of late 11thcentury england. The domesday book is one of medieval englands greatest treasures.
Somerset the following pages include domesday placenames and landowners, and beneath some are links to websites containing the local history of that place. By contemporaries the whole operation was known as the description of england, but the popular name domesdayi. The existing literature on this remarkable memorial is so extensive, that it has not appeared advisable to quote largely from it. Why it was written and what was involved in making it. The doomsday book synonyms, the doomsday book antonyms. Help us and translate this definition into another language. If you have a local history site that you would like to be included on these pages please get in touch via the contact page. This site allows you to find in one place, all the synonyms and antonyms of the english language. The bbc domesday project was a partnership between acorn computers, philips, logica and the bbc with some funding from the european commissions esprit programme to mark the 900th anniversary of the original domesday book, an 11thcentury census of england. Domesday book definition and meaning collins english. The national archives is the home of domesday book, the oldest surviving public record.
It is not known when exactly domesday book was compiled, but the entire copy of great domesday appears to have been. The book of winchester was the domesday book compiled by officials of william the conqueror on his orders and published c1086. The anglosaxon chronicle states that planning for the survey was conducted in 1085, and the books colophon states the survey was completed in 1086. So inspirational is domesday book that in 1986, to mark its 900th anniversary, the bbc, with the help of thousands of schoolchildren and teachers across the country, compiled. Domesday book synonyms, domesday book pronunciation, domesday book translation, english dictionary definition of domesday book. The greatest threats came from king canute iv of denmark.
For these three counties the full, unabbreviated return sent in to winchester by the commissioners is preserved in the second volume little domesday, which. This short three minute video covers what the domesday book is. Domesday book legal definition of domesday book legal dictionary. While spending the christmas time of 1085 in gloucester, william had deep speech with his counsellors and sent men all over england to. Along with a string of castles throughout england, the domesday book was to give william huge authority in england. May 21, 2016 this short three minute video covers what the domesday book is. Mar 05, 2015 the domesday book is one of medieval englands greatest treasures. The survey was similar to a census by a government of today. Indeed this is the reason for its name domesday book. Domesday is a corruption of doomsday the day of the final judgment. Galbraith pointed out that however the inquest was conducted, domesday book itself is organised on feudal principles which make it all but useless as a. Domesday book definition is a record of a survey of english lands and landholdings made by order of william the conqueror about 1086. Little domesday covering norfolk, suffolk, and essex, and great domesday covering much of the remainder of england except for lands in the north that later became westmorland, cumberland, northumberland, and the county palatine of durham and parts of wales bordering, and included within.
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