Domesday Book

The Domesday Book was commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1085. The Conq's power was under threat from King Canute IV of Denmark and King Olaf III of Norway. A specific tax, the Danegeld, was created to fund any potential battle against the Scandinavian forces. The Domesday Book seems to have been motivated by a desire to make sure maximum tax could be gained from the land-owners of England. It also meant that violent quarrels over land between Anglo-Saxons and their Norman conquerors could more easily be resolved now that information was centralised. William was a political powerhouse who brought about many changes to England and this huge book is an example of his ability to get things done. In 1986 the BBC embarked on a project to create a modern Domesday Book, but just fifteen years later the computer disks that it was stored on were unreadable and all the information was lost. Meanwhile, the big old dusty book remains in perfectly readable condition.

  I thought it would be interesting to see what the Domesday Book had to say about my home town Brighton 925 years ago: 

Ralph holds of William Bristelmestune. Brictric held it by grant (de demo) of Earl Godwin. In the time of King Edward as (et) now, it was assessed for 5 1/2 hides. There is land for 3 ploughs. On the demense is half a plough, and (there are) 18 villeins and 9 bordars with 3 ploughs and 1 serf. From gafol-rents 4,000 herrings. In the time of King Edward it was worth 8 pounds and 12 shillings; and afterwards 100 shillings; now 12 pounds. 

  'Brist' means divided in ancient English and apparently the dividing line was an old river called the Wellesbourne that ran from Patcham down to the sea. The building of Patcham Waterworks in 1889 which siphoned water from the rivers meant that the river ceased to flow. 'Tun' is a saxon term for house or farm, but I don't know if that is relevant.

  Ralph seems to be a bit of a mystery. The name Ralph means wolf counsel, so perhaps the land-owner of Brighton was a Mowgli-ish character who was raised by wolves. William is the famous de Warenne, a Norman who fought in the Battle of Hastings and was rewarded richly by the King with vast quantities of land. Brictric, a sadly lost name amongst 21st-century babies, was the previous owner having been given it by the generous and powerful Anglo-Saxon Earl Godwin. 

  The 5 1/2 hides is a measurement made to assess for taxes and the three ploughs is a measurement of land. One plough is an amount of land that a team of eight oxen and a farmer could plough in one day. It seems Brighton covered between 10-15 miles, but the language and mathematical complexities are proving tricky.

  The 4,000 herring was the rent that was charged for the land by the King. I assume that this is some sort of currency description rather a quantity of fish desired. 

  I've learnt snippets and snatches about the history of my home through delving into the Domesday Book. It feels like I've had a little swim around in the past and now the washing-up is calling me through the voicebox of my wife and I shall emerge into the present.