Domesday BookLincolnshireNorth Witham
Lincolnshire · Domesday Book 1086

North Witham 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, North Witham was held by Edward the noble.

Historical Context

North Witham 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 North Witham, 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 North Witham

Was North Witham in the Domesday Book?+
Yes. North Witham was recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book as a settlement in the historic county of Lincolnshire.
Who held North Witham in 1086?+
In 1086, North Witham was held by Edward the noble. The tenant-in-chief was York (St Peter), archbishop of.
Who held North Witham before the Norman Conquest?+
Before the Conquest in 1066, North Witham was held by Baca.
What was North Witham worth in the Domesday Book?+
In 1086, North Witham was valued at 2.5 pounds. The 1066 value was 2 pounds, showing a rise.
How many people lived in North Witham in 1086?+
The 1086 survey recorded 12 people in North Witham: 10 villagers and 2 smallholders.
What land did North Witham have in 1086?+
The Domesday Book records North Witham as having land for 2 ploughs, 27 acres of meadow.
Where is North Witham today?+
North Witham is a settlement in the historic county of Lincolnshire, England.
Aubrey Research

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