Spotlight On: Domesday Book

Exchequer: Domesday Book, 1086

Read video transcript

We hope you enjoyed watching our Education Service video with collections expert Jessica Nelson looking at the Exchequer series. This video focuses on Domesday Book, one of The National Archives’ most iconic documents.

Watch the video then try and answer the following questions:

  • What type of document is it?
  • What about the appearance of the document?
  • What is the date?
  • Who has produced it?
  • What does it say?
  • Who is it for?
  • What is the purpose of the document?
  • How is this document useful for understanding early medieval society during the time of William the Conqueror?
  • Why does the National Archives have it?

Download Domesday Resource Pack

Related Resources

  • Domesday Book
    • What can we learn about England in the 11th century?

  • Chertsey
    • What was Chertsey like in the Middle Ages?

Connections to Curriculum

Key stage 3

  • The development of Church, state and society in Medieval Britain 1066-1509: Then Norman Conquest

Key stage 4

  • AQA GCSE History
    • Norman England, c1066–c1100 including: Feudalism and government: roles, rights, and responsibilities; landholding and lordship; land distribution; the Domesday Book.
  • Edexcel GCSE History
    • Period study: Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, c1060–88
  • OCR GCSE History
    • The Norman Conquest, 1065–1087 Domesday Book, its creation and purpose. The social structure of Norman England including changes in land ownership and the elite.

Key stage 5

  • Edexcel GCE History
    • Anglo-Saxon England and the Anglo-Norman Kingdom, c1053–1106
  • OCR GCE History
    • Anglo-Saxon England and the Norman Conquest 1035–1107 (Enquiry topic: Norman England 1087–1107