Domesday Delving

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. Learn about the villagers, the woodland that supported the local pigs, and the fluctuating livestock numbers, all while piecing together the broader story of how the Domesday Book recorded and reshaped England’s landscape.

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 special focus on Ralph fitz Richard’s role, this episode brings Ruckinge’s medieval past to life, offering insights into feudal landholding and daily life in post-Conquest England.

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 memorializes a ‘broken bridge’ destroyed during the Harrying of the North, we’ll see how Ilbert’s influence helped define the region’s history.

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 history touches on the fragility of life, the resilience of those who survived, and the lasting consequences of unchecked power.