Domesday Delving

In this episode of Domesday Delving, we head to Ledbury in Herefordshire, a manor divided between knights, a priest, a radman, and the all-powerful Bishop of Hereford. But its Domesday entry also tells a tale of land disputes, shifting power, and the slow disappearance of Anglo-Saxon traditions under Norman rule. We’ll uncover why Harold Godwinson is never called King Harold in the Domesday Book,...

In this episode of Domesday Delving, we journey to Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire—a town with deep historical roots and a surprising connection to one very famous duck! Recorded as a royal demesne manor in the Domesday Book, Aylesbury saw major changes under Norman rule, from increased taxation to shifting landownership structures.

A look into Great Hormead's Domesday Entry, along with a brief look at the enduring legacy of the Anglo Saxon royal house, and how it eventually reconnected with the Norman rulers to form the Plantagenet dynasty. 

Six months of Domesday Delving, and a look into the disputes section of Skyrack Wapentake - the larger area which includes Garforth, the setting for the very first episode of Domesday Delving. 

A detailed look into High Wycombe before and after the Norman Conquest, along with a short delve into the life of Queen Edith.

A look into Peterborough's entry in the Domesday Book, along with a deeper delve into the history of the abbey.

An examination of the village of Ruislip in Middlesex, and a look at the importance of hunting for medieval nobility.

Were Kirk and Green Hammerton swapped in modern Domesday research? Discover the truth behind “the other Hammerton”, the fate of two Yorkshire villages after the Norman Conquest.

Step into Clun, a quiet Shropshire town with a stormy past. In this week’s episode of Domesday Delving, we uncover the story of Eadric the Wild—a rebel who defied William the Conqueror—and the challenges of life in the turbulent Welsh Marches. Resistance, resilience, and the human cost of change take center stage in Clun’s remarkable history.

A look into the birthplace of Edward the Confessor both before and after the Norman Conquest, including a brief examination of the life of Edward himself. 

A New Year's Eve look at the town of Chepstow through the lens of the Domesday Book. 

In this special holiday episode of Domesday Delving, we journey to Coventry, a medieval town filled with legends, faith, and festive traditions. Coventry’s Domesday entry reveals a thriving community that was as resilient as it was generous—values embodied by one of its most famous figures, Lady Godiva. Join us as we delve into Godiva’s legendary ride, uncover the origins of Christmas carols (incl...

A look into Bratton, Somerset, before and after 1066. 

A look at the charmingly named Little Puddle in Dorset. Along with an examination of the complexities of medieval land ownership. 

A delve into the past of Luckington in Wiltshire, and an in-depth look at ridge-and-furrow ploughing techniques.

A look into Winkton, Hampshire in 1086. It examines the importance of hunting, eels, and the creation of the New Forest. 

A delve into 4 towns not included in the Domesday Book, but requested by listeners or of personal significance to myself. 

A look into life in medieval Ockham, Surrey, along with an in-depth examination of medieval fisheries

A delve into Kingston by Sea and the importance of salt production in Medieval England. 

Okehampton's Domesday Delving episode, looking at slavery in the medieval period, the difference between serfs and slaves, along with the importance of milling and castles to the structure of society.

An exploration of medieval Helston in Cornwall, complete with an explanation of just how important ale really was to the medieval economy. 

In this episode of Domesday Delving, we explore the coastal settlement of Lowestoft in Suffolk, a berewick of Gorleston held by Gyrth Godwinson before the Norman Conquest. We'll dive into what life was like in this small but significant agricultural community, its ties to one of the most powerful families in pre-Conquest England, and the changes that followed in the wake of William the Conqueror....

In this episode of Domesday Delving, we visit the small village of Ruckinge in Kent. Once held by Leofraed under King Edward, Ruckinge came under the control of Ralph fitz Richard after the Norman Conquest. We’ll dive into the Domesday entry to uncover what half a sulung of land meant, explore the lives of the local villagers, and trace the impact of Norman rule on this rural community. With a spe...

In this episode of Domesday Delving, we journey to Pontefract in West Yorkshire, known as Tanshelf at the time of the Domesday survey. We'll explore the life of Ilbert de Lacy, one of William the Conqueror’s most powerful barons, and uncover how the Norman Conquest reshaped this vital stronghold. From the significance of Pontefract’s strategic location to the origins of its name, which memorialize...

In this episode of Domesday Delving, we journey to Lonton, the northernmost entry in the Domesday Book, and explore one of the darkest periods in England’s history: the Harrowing of the North. Discover the devastating impact of William the Conqueror’s brutal campaign, the rebellion that fueled it, and how the scars of those events still linger in the region today. This deep dive into medieval hist...