What is the Domesday Book?
The Domesday Book is a detailed survey of land and property in England, ordered by William the Conqueror in 1085 and completed in 1086. It recorded who owned land, how much it was worth and what resources it had.
William wanted to know the wealth of his new kingdom so he could raise taxes and understand what his nobles held. Royal commissioners traveled across England collecting information.
The survey recorded details such as the number of households, ploughs, mills, fishponds and livestock in more than 13,000 places.
Why the name
The name Domesday comes from the Day of Judgement, or doomsday, because its decisions were final and could not be challenged, like the final judgment.
The book is actually two volumes, known as Great Domesday and Little Domesday. It does not cover some northern areas, such as Northumberland, or the cities of London and Winchester.
The Domesday Book is kept at the National Archives in Kew, London. It is one of the most important historical documents in England and a valuable source for historians.
Many English towns and villages can trace their first written record to the Domesday Book. A digital version is available online.