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Rediscovering the Tudor Domesday
This project is creating a new understanding of regional environments and communities unlocked from a unique national survey, the Valor Ecclesiasticus.
About this image
Illuminated image of Henry VIII, taken from the 'King's Book', a presentation copy of the Valor Ecclesiasticus returns made for the king. Catalogue reference: E 344/22.
- Funder
- Timeframe
2026–2029
- In partnership with
University of Exeter, University of Reading, and University of Nottingham
- The National Archives' project lead
About the project
The Tudor Domesday opens up a historically neglected, nationwide survey of property and wealth in 16th-century England. This was Henry VIII’s first step after declaring his supremacy over the Church. This record can extend our knowledge and understanding of the development of landscapes, livelihoods and social organisation in every region of the kingdom over the course of their formative centuries.
This will be undertaken by an interdisciplinary team led by the University of Exeter, in which The National Archives is a co-lead alongside colleagues from the Universities of Reading and Nottingham. Our work will transform the 500-year old Latin manuscripts into modern, searchable records, explain its process and evaluate its importance as a guide to the arc of regional developments up to 1535.
In parallel, programmes for school teachers and UK archives sector professionals will test the use of the survey data as entry-points for exploring:
- the environmental and social history of regional localities;
- community history groups will explore how they might encourage and enhance the discovery of heritage sites and landscapes both directly and through Local Studies research;
- and webinars and a workshop will raise awareness of these little-known data on national land ownership, infrastructure and income with policymakers in a range of UK government departments.
Learn more about Rediscovering the Tudor Domesday