Bere Regis Entries in The Domesday Book
The Domesday survey began at the 1085 Christmas Court of King William I of England (known as 'The Conqueror') to provide a record of the land he had conquered 20 years before in 1066. When the king took council with his advisors, disputes about landholdings continually disturbed the collection of taxes. In 1086 Royal commissioners were sent out to every shire with a long list of questions. The king died before it was completed. 900 years later (1986 was the 900th anniversary of the publication of the book) 90% of the towns & villages still remain.
The original book was hand-written by, probably, a single monk. It still exists and is kept at the UK's Public Record Office in Kew, near London. They are kept secure in a metal chest, to be carefully removed every few centuries or so when they need re-binding.
The questionnaire sent out for the Domesday survey asked:
The name of the place
Who held it before 1066
Who holds it now (1085)
How many hides (1 hide of 20 acres could support 1 family)
How many ploughs
How many Lordships
How many men
How much woodland
How much meadow
How much pasture
How many villages
How many cottagers
How many slaves
How many free men
How many Freeman
How many mills
How many fish ponds
What the total value was
What the total value is
How much each free man or Freeman had or hasThe Village is mentioned several times in the Domesday Book in 1086. You can find an electronic scan of the actual pages where it is mentioned by clicking the 3 Images below. Beneath each image is a link to a translation of each page...
Click here for translation
Click here for translation
Click here for translation
© Bere Regis Village Website 2006 - Site by Chola Design
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