The Late Middle Ages
We find the Norman Commissioners, in Domesday Book, busy recording facts about the still existing parish:
“The bishop (Winchester) holds Harwelle in the demesne of his bishopric. Bishop Stigand held it in TR.E. (the reign of Edward) (it was) then (assessed) at 15 hides; now (it is assessed) at 10 hides. There is land for 8 ploughs (caruca + 8 oxen). On the demesne are 2 ploughs; and there are 18 villeins and 5 cottars with 6 ploughs. There are 4 serfs and a mill worth (de) 30 pence, and 45 acres of meadow.”
Dee Holes says
Could we add some explanations of the archaic terminology to aid understanding of the text for the layman?
Webmaster says
Agree. However, the principle of the book section is that the original text is presented just as it was in the book. Anyone who is able to help explain the archaic terminology is encouraged to add comments or write an additional article for the History Notes section.
Dee Holes says
Fair enough!
Michael Harvill says
This passage describes the manor of Harwelle (Harwell) as part of the Bishop of Winchester’s holdings during the time of the Domesday Book, which was compiled in 1086 under William the Conqueror. Here’s a breakdown of the information provided:
Bishopric of Winchester: The manor is held by the Bishop of Winchester, specifically mentioning Bishop Stigand as the holder during Edward the Confessor’s reign (TR.E., meaning “Tempore Regis Edwardi”).
Assessment in Hides: The assessment of the manor has decreased from 15 hides in Edward’s time to 10 hides at the time of the Domesday survey. A hide was a unit of land measurement, often considered enough land to support a household.
Agricultural Capacity: The land is capable of supporting 8 plough teams (carucae), where each team typically consisted of 8 oxen. This suggests the potential agricultural productivity of the manor.
Demesne and Labour:
On the demesne (the lord’s own land), there are 2 plough teams.
The manor has 18 villeins (peasants with land in return for labor services), 5 cottars (peasants with very small plots of land), and 4 serfs (unfree laborers tied to the land), who together operate 6 plough teams.
Economic Assets:
There’s a mill, which generates income or value equivalent to 30 pence.
Additionally, there are 45 acres of meadow, which would have been used for hay or grazing.
This entry provides insight into the economic and social structure of Harwelle in the late 11th century under Norman rule, highlighting how the manor was managed, its agricultural productivity, and the labor system in place. The reduction in hides might reflect changes in land use or valuation practices post-Conquest.
This information aligns with the historical context given in some of the web results, such as:
Harwell’s historical significance in relation to the Bishopric of Winchester, detailing how the manor was part of the bishop’s estate since at least the time of Edward the Confessor.