The Domesday Book

• Domesday Book

  A survey of England ordered by William the Conqueror in 1085 to investigate land holdings, taxes owed, and resources available
• Creation of the Domesday Book

  1. William sent men to investigate each shire, finding out how much land, cattle, and taxes were owed

  2. The results were then written up into the Domesday Book
• Information in the Domesday Book


  • For Torrington: Who held the land (Odo of Gamalon), how much land (3.5 hides), number of ploughlands, slaves, villagers, meadows, woodland, pigs produced, value of the manor
• Purpose of the Domesday Book

  • Legal - Solidified Norman ownership of land
  • Military - Allowed William to assess resources for defense against Danish invasion
  • Financial - Allowed William to determine how much tax he could collect
• The Domesday Book was organized by shire/county and by tenant, suggesting tax was a major concern
• The Domesday Book showed the transfer of land ownership from Saxons to Normans since 1066
• The Domesday Book demonstrated William's power and secure rule by 1086