Histon in the Domesday Book

HISTON answers for 26¹/₂ hides. This manor is one of the 12 lordship manors of the Bishopric of Lincoln. Bishop Remigius also holds 17 hides less 1 virgate. Land for 13 ploughs. In lordship 8 hides; 2 ploughs there; a third possible. 18 villagers and 18 smallholders with 9 ploughs; a tenth possible. 4 cottagers; 4 slaves. Meadow for 13 ploughs; pasture for the village livestock. Total value £10; when acquired £12; before 1066 £14.

Of the 26¹/₂ hides Picot holds 9 hides and 3 virgates from the Bishop. Land for 6 ploughs. In lordship 1 plough; a second possible. 10 villager and 9 cottagers with 2 ploughs; another 2 possible. Meadow for 6 ploughs; pasture for the village livestock. Value £4; when acquired £6; before 1066 £7. 9 Freemen held this land; they could sell, but the jursidiction remained with the Bishop.

In the same village Bishop Remigius holds 1 hide and 1 virgate and 2 parts of 1 virgate. Land for 1 plough, but the plough is not there. 1 villager; 1 cottager. Meadow for 1 plough. Value 5s; when acquired 10s; before 1066 20s. Wulfwin, the Abbot of Ely's man, held this land; he paid a sester of honey a year. Bishop Remigius annexed this land in the Abbot's despite, as the Hundred testifies. Picot the Sheriff holds it from the Bishop.

Definitions used:

• Hide - Reckoned in the Domesday Book to be about 120 fiscal acres
• Virgate - One quarter of a hide
• Hundred - Administrative district whose assembly of notables and village representatives usually met once a month
• Plough - Usually a plough team with 8 oxen and a plough

For more information, see the Domesday Book