 |
| Isleworth entry on Folio 130 from the Domesday Book |
What is the Domesday Book?
In 1066 William of Normandy invaded England and conquered the land, becoming King. In 1085 William sent his scribes travelling through all of England to make a record of his new lands and properties.
Using quill pens and writing on large sheets of vellum (calfskin) the scribes made a list of all the settlements and their Lords, the number of ploughs and domestic animals such as cows and pigs and the number of peasants and cottagers.
The vellum sheets were then bound into a book known as The Domesday Book. It is the first and most detailed census made in England.
King William and his heirs, the barons and church leaders, were able to use the information to raise taxes and to govern efficiently. |
 |
 |
there was no single hide...of land, nor indeed...one ox nor one cow nor one pig which was there left out... |
 |
How much was Isleworth worth?
Walter de Saint-Valery held the Manor of Isleworth, which included Twickenham at that time. The Manor had 70 hides (a hide is enough land to support one household) and 55 ploughs. The Lord's household owned 6 ½ hides with 6 ploughs.
There were 93 peasants, 6 cottagers and a priest with 28 ploughs. The scribe also noted there could be 11 more ploughs.
The Frenchmen (Normans who were the Lord's men) and a certain Englishman were noted as proven knights.
There were 2 mills, meadow for 20 ploughs, pasture for the livestock, 1 ½ weirs, [and] woodland for 500 pigs.
In all it was worth £72 at that time. |
|
|
|
| Things
to do |
| The original Domesday Book is kept at the National Archives in Kew. You can vist and find out more about life in England at this time. |
| Read
more about
Domesday Book - Isleworth (for older children and adults). |
|
