Lincolnshire · Domesday Book 1086

Boothby in the Domesday Book

A settlement recorded in William the Conqueror's great survey of England, completed in 1086. 2 manors were recorded here.

In 1086, Boothby was held by Roger.

Historical Context

Boothby 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 Boothby, 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

Lincolnshire in the Domesday survey

Lincolnshire in 1086 was one of England's most populous and prosperous counties, with a strong Scandinavian heritage reflected in its place-names and social structure. The city of Lincoln was a major urban centre, and the county's flat eastern fenlands were highly productive agricultural land. Its position on the North Sea coast made it important for trade with Scandinavia and the Low Countries.

Common questions

Questions about Boothby

Was Boothby in the Domesday Book?+
Yes. Boothby was recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book as a settlement in the historic county of Lincolnshire.
Who held Boothby in 1086?+
In 1086, Boothby was held by Roger. The tenant-in-chief was Gilbert of Ghent.
Who held Boothby before the Norman Conquest?+
Before the Conquest in 1066, Boothby was held by Sighvatr.
What was Boothby worth in the Domesday Book?+
In 1086, Boothby was valued at 3 pounds. The 1066 value was 3 pounds, showing unchanged.
How many people lived in Boothby in 1086?+
The 1086 survey recorded 9 people in Boothby: 7 villagers and 2 smallholders.
What land did Boothby have in 1086?+
The Domesday Book records Boothby as having land for 5 ploughs, 6 acres of meadow, 100 acres of woodland.
Where is Boothby today?+
Boothby is a settlement in the historic county of Lincolnshire, England.
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