Lincolnshire · Domesday Book 1086

Wootton in the Domesday Book

A settlement recorded in William the Conqueror's great survey of England, completed in 1086. 3 manors were recorded here.

In 1086, Wootton was held by Roger.

Historical Context

Wootton 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 Wootton, 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 Wootton

Was Wootton in the Domesday Book?+
Yes. Wootton was recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book as a settlement in the historic county of Lincolnshire.
Who held Wootton in 1086?+
In 1086, Wootton was held by Roger. The tenant-in-chief was Lincoln (St Mary), bishop of.
Who held Wootton before the Norman Conquest?+
Before the Conquest in 1066, Wootton was held by Wulfmer.
What was Wootton worth in the Domesday Book?+
In 1086, Wootton was valued at 2 pounds. The 1066 value was 2 pounds, showing unchanged.
How many people lived in Wootton in 1086?+
The 1086 survey recorded 21 people in Wootton: 12 villagers and 9 smallholders.
What land did Wootton have in 1086?+
The Domesday Book records Wootton as having land for 4 ploughs.
Where is Wootton today?+
Wootton is a settlement in the historic county of Lincolnshire, England.
Aubrey Research

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