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| Hampton entry on Folio 130 of the Domesday Book |
What is the Domesday Book?
In 1066 William of Normandy invaded England, conquered the land and had himself crowned King. In 1085, William sent his scribes travelling through all of England to make a record of his 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. |
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Then he (King William) sent his men over all England into every shire and had them find out...how much everybody had who was occupying land in England... |
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How much was Hampton worth?
After the Norman conquest Hampton manor was held by Walter de Saint-Valery. He owned 18 hides (a hide is enough land to support one household) and 3 ploughs.
He was Lord of the Manor to 35 households owning 25 ploughs, 41 peasants owning 17 ploughs, and 4 cottagers with 3 meadows and 3 ploughs. The scribes also noted that there were seine nets and drag nets in the River Thames.
Hampton was worth £39 at this time. |
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| Things
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| The original Domesday Book is kept at the National Archives in Kew. You can visit and find out more about England at this time. |
| Read
more about
Domesday Book - Hampton (for older children and adults). |
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