Lincolnshire · Domesday Book 1086

Walcot in the Domesday Book

A settlement recorded in William the Conqueror's great survey of England, completed in 1086. 4 manors were recorded here.

In 1086, Walcot was held by Ivo (Tallboys).

Historical Context

Walcot 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 Walcot, 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 Walcot

Was Walcot in the Domesday Book?+
Yes. Walcot was recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book as a settlement in the historic county of Lincolnshire.
Who held Walcot in 1086?+
In 1086, Walcot was held by Ivo (Tallboys). The tenant-in-chief was Peterborough (St Peter), abbey of.
Who held Walcot before the Norman Conquest?+
Before the Conquest in 1066, Walcot was held by Eskil.
What was Walcot worth in the Domesday Book?+
In 1086, Walcot was valued at 2 pounds. The 1066 value was 6 pounds, showing a fall.
How many people lived in Walcot in 1086?+
The 1086 survey recorded 13 people in Walcot: 11 villagers and 2 smallholders.
What land did Walcot have in 1086?+
The Domesday Book records Walcot as having land for 6.62 ploughs, 380 acres of meadow, 60 acres of woodland.
Where is Walcot today?+
Walcot is a settlement in the historic county of Lincolnshire, England.
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