Domesday BookCornwallTywardreath
Cornwall · Domesday Book 1086

Tywardreath in the Domesday Book

A settlement recorded in William the Conqueror's great survey of England, completed in 1086.

In 1086, Tywardreath was held by Richard (son of Turolf).

Historical Context

Tywardreath in 1086

The Domesday Book was the result of a comprehensive survey ordered by William the Conqueror at Christmas 1085. Royal commissioners rode out across every county of England, recording the name and size of every settlement, who held it, what it was worth, and how that compared with the value it had held in the time of Edward the Confessor twenty years before.

For a settlement like Tywardreath, being entered in the Domesday Book was a defining moment in its history — a written acknowledgement of its existence by the new Norman state. The survey recorded the manor's lord, its taxable assessment in hides or carucates, the number of ploughs at work, and the population of villagers, smallholders and slaves who farmed the land.

The names of Domesday settlements reveal the deep roots of England's landscape. Many carry Saxon, Danish or even older origins — names that were already ancient when the Norman commissioners inscribed them in the great survey. Understanding a place's Domesday record is the first step in tracing the full arc of its history from the early medieval period to the present day.

About this area

Cornwall in the Domesday survey

Cornwall in 1086 retained a strong Celtic character, with a landscape of moorland, wooded valleys and a long Atlantic coastline. The county's small manors often had Cornish place-names, reflecting the persistence of Brythonic culture after the English conquest of the earlier centuries. The Count of Mortain held much of Cornwall, with estates scattered across its distinctive landscape of cliffs and farmland.

Common questions

Questions about Tywardreath

Was Tywardreath in the Domesday Book?+
Yes. Tywardreath was recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book as a settlement in the historic county of Cornwall.
Who held Tywardreath in 1086?+
In 1086, Tywardreath was held by Richard (son of Turolf). The tenant-in-chief was Count Robert of Mortain.
Who held Tywardreath before the Norman Conquest?+
Before the Conquest in 1066, Tywardreath was held by Cola.
What was Tywardreath worth in the Domesday Book?+
In 1086, Tywardreath was valued at 2 pounds.
How many people lived in Tywardreath in 1086?+
The 1086 survey recorded 33 people in Tywardreath: 8 villagers, 18 smallholders and 7 slaves.
What land did Tywardreath have in 1086?+
The Domesday Book records Tywardreath as having land for 12 ploughs.
Where is Tywardreath today?+
Tywardreath is a settlement in the historic county of Cornwall, England.
Aubrey Research

Discover Tywardreath's Complete Historical Record

Aubrey's full report for this location includes every Domesday manor, the complete record of medieval lordship, archaeological context, and the story of how this settlement evolved from 1086 to the present day.

Start your Aubrey report
Covers any location in England, Scotland or Wales