1066 and the Domesday Record Berkhamsted

the anglo-saxons surrendered crown of england william conqueror @ berkhamsted in december 1066. after william defeated , killed harold ii @ battle of hastings in october, failed in attempt capture london south. william led army around london, crossing river thames @ wallingford, laying waste while travelling through southeast england. @ berkhamsted, received surrender of edgar Ætheling (heir english throne), archbishop ealdred, earl edwin, earl morcar , leaders of london. not known why berkhamsted chosen meeting place, except berkhamsted in defensive position north-west of london. william crowned in westminster abbey on christmas day, 1066. after coronation, william granted honour of berkhamsted half-brother, robert, count of mortain, after william became largest landholder in country. robert built wooden fortification later became royal retreat monarchs of norman plantagenet dynasties.

the lord of berkhamsted prior norman conquest edmer ator (also referred eadmer atule), thegn of edward confessor , king harold. domesday survey records there enough land 26 plough teams, 15 working teams. there 2 flour mills (upper , lower mill), woodland 1,000 pigs, , vineyard. total population calculated either 37 or 88 households; families included 14 villagers, 15 smallholders, 6 slaves, priest, dyke builder (possibly working on earthworks of castle) , 52 burgesses. historians have argued number of 52 burgesses in berkhamsted clerical error, high number small town. berkhamsted described in domesday book burbium (ancient borough) in tring hundred.() marjorie chibnall argued robert, count of mortain intended berkhamsted both commercial , defensive centre; while john hatcher , edward miller believed 52 burgesses involved in trade, unknown if burgesses existed prior conquest.

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