The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Domesday Book

the record of a general land census in England undertaken by William I the Conqueror in 1086 (20 years after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066) to determine the crown’s material resources; this was the earliest state census in European history. The Domesday Book was exceptionally complete; data were assembled on the size of patrimonies (manors) and on the distribution between the landowner and the peasant tenants of arable land, livestock, and equipment on the manor, as well as on the number and categories (in property and law) of the various kinds of landowners and tenants. The very fact of determining the legal status of the peasants of England made the Domesday Book a cause for the drastic deterioration of their position and for the spread of serfdom to strata of the peasantry that had previously been free. The name of this census reflects the attitude of contemporaries toward it. The Domesday Book is an extremely valuable source for the socioeconomic history of medieval England.

PUBLICATION

Domesday Book . . . , vols. 1–4. London, 1783–1816.

REFERENCES

Kosminskii, E. A. Issledovaniia po agrarnoi istorii Anglii XIII ν. Moscow, 1947.
Barg, M. A. Issledovaniia po istorii angliiskogo feodalizma ν XI—XIII vv. Moscow, 1962.
Levitskii, la. A. “Problema rannego feodal’nogo goroda ν Anglii i Kniga Strashnogo suda.” In the collection Srednie veka, issue 3. Moscow, 1951.

M. A. BARG

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References in periodicals archive

We of course do not know what is in the Doomsday Book because its existence and contents were secret until it was mentioned in the Geithner memoir.

A comment on Metzger and Zaring: the quicksilver problem

Even before the Merry Men's exploits, the first indication of a settlement at Colwick Park appeared in the Doomsday Book in 1086.

TANYA STEVENSON: Corden's not a moron - as his story of success proves

But this isn't a Doomsday book. This is the creative, lyrical voice of an activist.

Salt Fish Girl. (Arts & Lit)

For example, a 1987 electronic version of the Doomsday Book, which was first compiled in 1086, has become unreadable.

The role of microfilm in information management: current and past problems with digital long-term storage have been well publicized. Is it possible to guarantee the preservation of history and allow for future processing of it? (Tech Trends)

In Overton Village, the 21 tall, dark yew trees in the church of St Mary date from Medieval times, and the village itself is mentioned in the doomsday book.

FOLLOWING BORDERS; Go - Zone :

My story concerns John de Bermingham, his brother William and his son Walter, three Norman knights resident in Ireland and descended from Richard de Bermingham, recorded in the Doomsday Book as `lord of Bermingeha'.

LETTERS

(or Doomsday Book; ME, domesday, " day of judgment " ; 1086) Latin record of a census and survey of most of England.

Domesday Book

The walls of that original fortress are still present - and the Doomsday Book records a manor house on the grounds.

For sale: Des res with portcullis, ramparts and moat

The property, located at Marden, Hereford, is rich in history, with the original dwelling mentioned in the Doomsday book as "La Verne." It was thought to be a hideout for Owen Glendower when fleeing from Henry VI's soldiers at the end of his life.

Feel the history at fine farmhouse

The ancient 150-acre wood, which was listed in the Doomsday Book, is one of West Yorkshire's largest, remaining semi-natural ancient woods.

LITTER LOUTS SPOIL WOOD; Campers leave rubbish pile

The earliest mill in the area is recorded in the Doomsday Book in 1086AD at Ghisburg.

TEESSIDE TRIVIA

My lovely wife always tries to chivvy me up and get me enthused with brilliantly-conceived pressies (more of that later) and cakes sporting candles, but as I'm nearly as old as an oak tree recorded in the Doomsday Book, I find it increasingly difficult.

STRAIGHT OFF THE VINE