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Wooden chest in which Domesday Book was kept stored from about 1600. Catalogue reference: E 31/4
Wooden chest, cased, lined and bound in iron and secured by three different locks, in which Domesday Book was kept stored from about 1600.

At Christmas 1085 William had "deep speech" with his council and as a result ordered a general survey of the land to be made. Historians have debated the purpose of this "Domesday" survey, some seeing it as primarily a tax assessment, others emphasizing its importance as a basis for assignment of feudal rights and duties. Its form owed much to Anglo-Saxon precedent, but within each county section it was organized on a feudal basis. It was probably a multipurpose document with the main emphasis on resources for taxation. It was incomplete, for the far north of England, London, and Winchester were not included, while the returns for Essex, Norfolk, and Suffolk were not condensed into the same form as was used for the rest of the country. Domesday is a unique record and offers rich materials for research.

The lands of William de Warenne at the time of the Domesday Survey 1086 

The following is a list of those settlements in England with which William de Warenne had some right of ownership.  In 1088, Earl William was made Earl of Surrey, a title which carried with it numerous other lands and possessions which are not recorded in the Domesday Survey as belonging to the Earl Warenne. 

Bedfordshire
Dean
Easton
Keysoe
Swineshead 

Berkshire
NONE

Buckinghamshire
Broughton (nr Aylesbury)

Cambridgeshire
Carlton
Chishill
Trumpington
Weston Colville
West Wickham
West Wratting
Wisbech

Cheshire
NONE 

Cornwall
NONE 

Cumberland
NONE 

Derbyshire
NONE 

Devonshire
NONE 

Dorset
NONE

Essex
Belstead Hall
Canfield
Chardwell (formerly Ainsworth)
Dunmow
Easton
Fordham
Halstead
Hannington
Housham
Hunt's Hall (Formerly Pooley)
Kenningtons
Paglesham
Peyton
Plumberow
Quick(s)bury
Roding
Steeple Bumpstead
Tildury
Wedens 

Gloucestershire
NONE 

Hampshire
Fratton  

Herefordshire
NONE 

Hertfordshire
NONE

Huntingdonshire
Catworth
Little Catworth
Tilbrooke 

Kent
NONE 

Lancashire
NONE 

Leicestershire
NONE

Lincolnshire
Carlton Scroop
Long
Bennington 

Middlesex
NONE 

Norfolk
Acre
Aldborough
Anmer
Aylmerton
Bagthorpe
Banham
Bannington
Barmer
Barnham Broom
Barsham 
Barwick
Blo Norton
Bodney
Bradenham
Brampton
Irmingland

Norfolk (continued)
Itteringham
Kempstone
Kerdiston
Kettlestone
Knapton
Great Ryburgh
Gresham
Gressenhall
Grimston
Griston
Hackford
Harpley
Hauthois
Heacham
Helhoughton
Hempton
Hilborough
Hilgay
Hillington
Hingham
Hocwold Holkham
Houghton
Hunworth
Ickburgh
lllington
Irmingland
Itteringham
Kempstone
Kerdiston
Kettlestone
Knapton
Larling
Letton 
Lexham
Little Barningham
Little Ellingham
Little Ruburgh
Little Snoring
Mannington
Massingham
Mattishall
Melthwold
Morley St Botolph
Mundesley
Mundford
North Barningham
North Barsham
North Walsham
Northwold
Outwell
Plagrave
Pickenham
Plumstead (Nr Holt)
Repps (Northreppst + Southrepps)
Rockland
Rockland St Peter
Poudham
Rudham
Salthouse
Santon
Scarning
Sco Ruston
Shereford
Shernborne
Shipdham
Sidestrand
Snettisham
South Acre
Southburgh
Stanfield
Stanhoe
Stibbard
Stinton
Sustead
Syderstone
Tattersett
Taverham
Thompson
Thorpe Market
Threxton
Thurning
Thuxton
Tittleshall
Toftrees
Trunchx
Tuttington
Waterden
Weeting
Welborne
West Dereham
West Walton
Wick
Wicklewood
Wickmere
Wilton
Wimsbotsham
Wit ton 
Wolterton
Wood Dalling
Wood Rising
Yelverton 

Northamptonshire
NONE

Nottinghamshire
NONE 

Oxfordshire
Caversfield
Gatehampton
Mapledreham 

Rutland
NONE 

Shropshire
NONE 

Somerset
NONE 

Suffolk
Barnham
Boulge
Bredfield
Burgh (near Woodbridge)
Buxhall
Covehithe (formerly North Hales)
Creeting
Dedach
Depden
Elveden
Gedding
Henstead
Herring swell 
Middleton 
Thorington (near Dunwich)
Withersfield
Wrentham 

Surrey
NONE (note. In 1088 William de
Warenne was given the Earldom
of
Surrey with all its lands).
 

Sussex
Ashcombe
Balmer
Barcombe
Bevendean
Brighton
Clayton
East Chiltington
Falmer
Fulking
Hamsey
Hangleton
Hurstpierpoint
Iford
Keymer
Lewes
Mayfield
Moulstone
Newtimber
Ovingdean
Pangdean
Patcham
Perching
Plumpton
Portslade
Poynings
Rodmell
Rotting dean
Saddlescombe
Streat
Upper Beeding
Warningore
Westmerston
Wicham
Winterbourne
Wootton 

Warwickshire
NONE 

Westmorland
NONE 

Wiltshire
NONE 

Yorkshire, North Riding
NONE 

Yorkshire, East Riding
NONE 

Yorkshire, West Riding
Aughton
Barnbrough
Bilham
Braithwell
Bramley (in Leeds)
Bramley (near Rotherham)
Clifton
Conisbrough
Cusworth
Dinnington
Edenthorpe
Fishlake
Greasbrough
Harthill
Hatfield
Hoyland Nether
Kirk Sandall
Kiveton
Ravenfield
Stainforth
Thorne
Tudworth
Whiston
Wilsic

 

 

During the medieval period the de Warenne family was one of the foremost families in England, this can best be seen by looking at the remains of their castles.  Although Conisbrough Castle is the best preserved and most unaltered of the de Warenne castles, some of the other sites offer a unique insight into the development of the castle during the medieval period.
Castle Acre Castle
Click here to go to the Castle Acre Castle page on the English Heritage website
One of the principal residences of the de Warenne family in England.  The castle today consists of little more than an earth-work with a few low walls and foundations.  However, the site is worthy of a visit mainly due to its close proximity to the substantial remains of Castle Acre Priory at the opposite end of Castle Acre village.  The Priory was originally funded by the de Warenne family.

Both monuments are in the care of English Heritage. Click Here to find out more.

Back to the Map

Reigate Castle
Reigate Castle was once the seat of the Earldom of Surrey and the reason why the town of Reigate exists.  Sadly, only the earth-work of the medieval castle survives above ground, this is now a public flower park.  However there is a man-made cave system within the mound known as "the Barons' Cave", further information is available from the Wealden Cave and Mine Society website, Click Here.  Any stone-work visible above ground on the site dates to the eighteenth century.

The site is in the care of Reigate Council. Click Here to find out more.

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Lewes Castle
Lewes Castle is one of only two castles in the country to possess two mottes, the other being Lincoln.  Lewes is said to have been the foremost residence of the de Warenne family throughout the medieval period.  The remains of Lewes Castle today have been modified by later generations of owners but is still a most impressive site and worthy of a visit.

The Monument is in the care of Sussex Past. Click Here to find out more.

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Holt Castle
Holt Castle was the last of the de Warenne castles to be constructed (1282 - 1311) and was granted to John the seventh Earl Warenne by Edward I for the Earl's help in the wars with the Welsh.  Little remains of the castle today, except for the quarry into which the castle is built.

Click Here to find out more.

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Sandal Castle
Sandal Castle is one of the more unusual castle sites in England having a barbican tower in the middle of the inner ward of the castle, and not on the outside of the castle gateway as was usual.  The site can also boast one of the most intensive archaeological excavations to have ever taken place at an English castle; the dig lasted for ten seasons and added much to our understanding of the medieval castle.  Although there is little in the way of standing stone-work at the site, recent grant-aided improvements, including a visitor centre and observation platform on top of the motte, make Sandal well worth a visit.  

The Monument is in the care of Wakefield Council. Click Here to find out more.