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The Domesday Book (1086)

Study note

Soon after the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror wanted to know exactly what he now ruled. He ordered a great survey of England to record who owned the land, how much it was worth, and what animals and resources were on it. This information would help him to govern and to collect taxes.

The results of this survey were written down in 1086 in a record known as the Domesday Book. This book still survives today and is a valuable source for understanding medieval England. The Domesday Book was a survey of land and ownership ordered by William the Conqueror; it was not a book of laws by King John, a collection of Shakespeare's plays, or the first English dictionary. Remember the year 1086 and the link to William the Conqueror.

Memory tip: 1086, the Domesday Book: William's great survey of who owned what in England.

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What was the Domesday Book?

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The Domesday Book (1086): questions, answers and explanations

  1. 1. What was the Domesday Book?

    • A survey of land and ownership in England ordered by William the Conqueror
    • The first English dictionary
    • A book of laws written by King John
    • A collection of Shakespeare's plays

    Correct answer: A survey of land and ownership in England ordered by William the Conqueror

    The Domesday Book of 1086 recorded land ownership across England for William the Conqueror.

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