Problem with relying on the Domesday Book is that it didn't cover all of what is considered as England nowadays. As far as the Normans were concerned large swaths of the North were no go areas (the River Tees was the start of indian country for many decades after 1066) - they had fortified outposts but didn't control the surrounding land enough to be able to tax it, which was the Doomsday Book was all about - identifying taxable resources. For example the Normans first built the fortifications on the banks of the Tyne (which was to be called the New Castle) in 1080 - however whilst they could control the immediate area, it took far longer to 'pacify' the North to the extent that their assessors could travel in relative safety. It was only after the production of the Boldon Book in 1183 that the Normans managed to get a handle on what was happening in the Northern English counties.
What strikes me is that the population of England in 1086 is estimated at about 1.7 million, and stands at about 57 million today, a 30 fold increase. Most of these cities have increased their population by a hundred fold, London by nearly a thousand fold. This speaks to how urbanised our population has become and conversely how rural it was back in the 11th century.
Interesting to note that the population of the original City of London as of 2021 is given as 8,600, somewhat less than in 1086, though still considerably more than the meagre 3,800 it had fallen to in 1991! This must surely be one of the few, if not the only populous area in Britain which has decreased in the last 1000 years, surely?
Thanks for your great work!
😂😂😂Bognor Regis😂😂😂 A greatly informative and entertaining video, thanks! 👍👏👌
Fun Fun as usual Alex. Anxious to learn what the next 10 might be.
Problem with relying on the Domesday Book is that it didn't cover all of what is considered as England nowadays.
As far as the Normans were concerned large swaths of the North were no go areas (the River Tees was the start of indian country for many decades after 1066) - they had fortified outposts but didn't control the surrounding land enough to be able to tax it, which was the Doomsday Book was all about - identifying taxable resources. For example the Normans first built the fortifications on the banks of the Tyne (which was to be called the New Castle) in 1080 - however whilst they could control the immediate area, it took far longer to 'pacify' the North to the extent that their assessors could travel in relative safety. It was only after the production of the Boldon Book in 1183 that the Normans managed to get a handle on what was happening in the Northern English counties.
Agreed wholeheartedly. I'm from Darlington, and I'm most insistent that that the Normans didn't "conquer England" - north of the Tees anyway.
What strikes me is that the population of England in 1086 is estimated at about 1.7 million, and stands at about 57 million today, a 30 fold increase. Most of these cities have increased their population by a hundred fold, London by nearly a thousand fold. This speaks to how urbanised our population has become and conversely how rural it was back in the 11th century.
Fascinating. Thank you.
Thanks for watching!
Interesting. You did a great job.
Thank you!
Really interesting
Thanks!
Thanks Dianne, much appreciated! :)
Is there a list of Domesday towns by population somewhere online?
Any mention of the OLMSTED name
Wow. So to get in the top ten you needed a population of a just small village today. That really puts population into perspective.
Interesting to note that the population of the original City of London as of 2021 is given as 8,600, somewhat less than in 1086, though still considerably more than the meagre 3,800 it had fallen to in 1991! This must surely be one of the few, if not the only populous area in Britain which has decreased in the last 1000 years, surely?
Wow, Oxford didn't make it, but Cambridge did, the bounders.
Westminster and London were two separate cities, so should have its population divided.