Domesday BookLincolnshireSpridlington
Lincolnshire · Domesday Book 1086

Spridlington 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, Spridlington was held by Count Alan (of Brittany).

Historical Context

Spridlington 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 Spridlington, 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.

Historical context

Notable places nearby

Lincoln
Roman town · ~8.2 miles
Common questions

Questions about Spridlington

Was Spridlington in the Domesday Book?+
Yes. Spridlington was recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book as a settlement in the historic county of Lincolnshire.
Who held Spridlington in 1086?+
In 1086, Spridlington was held by Count Alan (of Brittany).
Who held Spridlington before the Norman Conquest?+
Before the Conquest in 1066, Spridlington was held by Cnut (son of Karli).
What was Spridlington worth in the Domesday Book?+
In 1086, Spridlington was valued at 1.5 pounds. The 1066 value was 1.5 pounds, showing unchanged.
How many people lived in Spridlington in 1086?+
The 1086 survey recorded 32 people in Spridlington: 22 villagers and 10 smallholders.
What land did Spridlington have in 1086?+
The Domesday Book records Spridlington as having land for 3.25 ploughs, 8 acres of meadow.
Where is Spridlington today?+
Spridlington is a settlement in the historic county of Lincolnshire, England.
Aubrey Research

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