History
Piddington in the Domesday Book
Introduction
Both Merton (Meretone) and Piddington (Petintone) are mentioned in the Domesday Book as 'lands' in Oxfordshire that were held by the Countess Judith (see translated entry below).
1066 - Hakun
Before the Norman conquest, these two Oxfordshire lands were in the possession of Hakun, who in 1066 held 35 lands. These were scattered across England but were predominantly in the east, as suggested by his Scandinavian name. Hakun held three Oxfordshire lands: Merton, Piddington and Nuneham Courtenay. These were his most western lands, except for outlying land at Bincknoll in Wiltshire.
1086 - Countess Judith
Countess Judith, niece of William the Conqueror, held 245 lands at the time of the Domesday Book. These were concentrated in what we would today call the East Midlands, and were mostly in Northamptonshire. She held only two lands in present-day Oxfordshire: Merton and Piddington.
Interestingly, Piddington in Northamptonshire (also held by Judith) is referred to in the Domesday Book as ‘Pidentone’ – so although the two villages have differing roots, they have merged into a common modern spelling.
Interestingly, Piddington in Northamptonshire (also held by Judith) is referred to in the Domesday Book as ‘Pidentone’ – so although the two villages have differing roots, they have merged into a common modern spelling.
PASE website
There is a good website called The Prosopography of Anglo-Saxon England Database Project by Kings College London and Cambridge University (www.pase.ac.uk), which documents the Domesday Book entries.
On their Home Page, select ‘DOMESDAY BOOK’ tab, enter ‘Judith’ in NAMES box, and ‘Countess’ in DESCRIPTION box. Click SEARCH to show all the lands owned by Judith. Results are shown as a list and most usefully on a map. For Hakun’s lands, simply enter ‘Hakun’ in NAMES box (leave others blank/default), click SEARCH.
On their Home Page, select ‘DOMESDAY BOOK’ tab, enter ‘Judith’ in NAMES box, and ‘Countess’ in DESCRIPTION box. Click SEARCH to show all the lands owned by Judith. Results are shown as a list and most usefully on a map. For Hakun’s lands, simply enter ‘Hakun’ in NAMES box (leave others blank/default), click SEARCH.
Translation of entry in Domesday Book, 1086/87
LIII The land of Countess Judith
Countess Judith holds MERETONE (MERTON) of the king. There are 10 hides. [There is] land for 12 ploughs. Now in demesne [are] 2 ploughs, and 2 slaves ; and 19 villans with 6 bordars have 5 ploughs. There are 100 acres of meadow, [and] a grove 4 furlongs long and 1½ furlongs broad. It was and is worth £8.
The same countess holds PETINTONE (PIDDINGTON). There are 4 hides. [There is] land for 9 ploughs. Now in demesne [are] 3 ploughs, with 1 slave ; and 12 villans with 6 bordars have 5 ploughs. There are 30 acres of meadow, [and] woodland 2 leagues long and 5 furlongs broad. It was worth £6 ; now £4. Hakun held these 2 estates freely.
The same countess holds PETINTONE (PIDDINGTON). There are 4 hides. [There is] land for 9 ploughs. Now in demesne [are] 3 ploughs, with 1 slave ; and 12 villans with 6 bordars have 5 ploughs. There are 30 acres of meadow, [and] woodland 2 leagues long and 5 furlongs broad. It was worth £6 ; now £4. Hakun held these 2 estates freely.
Glossary
DEMESNE (Latin dominium; Old French adj demeigne, owned)
Land ‘in Lordship’ whose produce is devoted to the lord rather than his tenants.
HIDE (Old English hid, hida)
The standard unit of assessment to tax. Notionally the amount of land which would support a household. Each hide could be divided into 4 Virgates, the equivalent to the English yardland.
VILLAN (Latin villanus; the Old English ‘tunsman’, a villager)
A peasant of higher economic status than a bordar and living in a village. Notionally unfree because they are subject to the Manorial Court.
BORDAR (from Old French borde, a wooden hut)
A cottager; a peasant of lower economic status than a villan.
ACRE (Latin acra, from ager, field)
Unlike the modern acre the medieval acre could be used to estimate length as well as area. As a square measure 1 acre = 4 x 40 perches, as a linear measure 1 acre = 66 ft (i.e. the length of a modern cricket pitch).
FURLONG (Latin quarentina; Old English furlong, from furh, furrow and lang long)
The length of a furrow is 40 perches.
PERCH (Latin pertica)
Varied from 14 to 18 ft and could sometimes be 25 to 28 ft.
LEAGUE (Latin leuga)
A Gaulish measure of 1½ Roman miles of 1,000 paces. In Medieval England, 1 league = 12 furlongs (1 mile = 8 furlongs).
Land ‘in Lordship’ whose produce is devoted to the lord rather than his tenants.
HIDE (Old English hid, hida)
The standard unit of assessment to tax. Notionally the amount of land which would support a household. Each hide could be divided into 4 Virgates, the equivalent to the English yardland.
VILLAN (Latin villanus; the Old English ‘tunsman’, a villager)
A peasant of higher economic status than a bordar and living in a village. Notionally unfree because they are subject to the Manorial Court.
BORDAR (from Old French borde, a wooden hut)
A cottager; a peasant of lower economic status than a villan.
ACRE (Latin acra, from ager, field)
Unlike the modern acre the medieval acre could be used to estimate length as well as area. As a square measure 1 acre = 4 x 40 perches, as a linear measure 1 acre = 66 ft (i.e. the length of a modern cricket pitch).
FURLONG (Latin quarentina; Old English furlong, from furh, furrow and lang long)
The length of a furrow is 40 perches.
PERCH (Latin pertica)
Varied from 14 to 18 ft and could sometimes be 25 to 28 ft.
LEAGUE (Latin leuga)
A Gaulish measure of 1½ Roman miles of 1,000 paces. In Medieval England, 1 league = 12 furlongs (1 mile = 8 furlongs).
Source (translation and glossary extract): Domesday Book: A Complete Translation, ed. Geoffrey Martin, Penguin Classics, 2002.
Information provided by Isobel Dodson