Worcestershire · Domesday Book 1086

Hollow 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, Hollow was held by King William.

Historical Context

Hollow 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 Hollow, 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

Worcestershire in the Domesday survey

Worcestershire in 1086 was a prosperous county of the Severn valley and the Malvern Hills, its estates dominated by the church. The bishop of Worcester and the great abbeys of Evesham and Pershore held much of the county's land. Its fertile soils and navigable river made it an important agricultural and commercial region, and the city of Worcester was a significant urban centre in the west midlands.

Common questions

Questions about Hollow

Was Hollow in the Domesday Book?+
Yes. Hollow was recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book as a settlement in the historic county of Worcestershire.
Who held Hollow in 1086?+
In 1086, Hollow was held by King William.
Who held Hollow before the Norman Conquest?+
Before the Conquest in 1066, Hollow was held by Siward (the fat).
How many people lived in Hollow in 1086?+
The 1086 survey recorded 8 people in Hollow: 4 villagers, 1 smallholder and 3 slaves.
Where is Hollow today?+
Hollow is a settlement in the historic county of Worcestershire, England.
Aubrey Research

Discover Hollow's Complete Historical Record

Aubrey's full report for this location includes every Domesday manor, the complete record of medieval lordship, archaeological context, and the story of how this settlement evolved from 1086 to the present day.

Start your Aubrey report
Covers any location in England, Scotland or Wales