A walk through Domesday's historical England

4 stars

I seem to dwell in medieval times quite a lot of late. Spurred on by the recent arrival of the Bayeaux Tapestry to British shores, I am curious about this time period and how the complexion of England shifted after the Norman invasion. Like all other invaders who came before, the Normans left their mark across the country. Specifically churches as well as motte and bailey castles, to name a few. They were also known for their ruthless treatment and crushing tax burden imposed on the people. The most important artifact of their time in dominion is the Domesday manuscript commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. Designed as an audit of all property and wealth within much of England and bits of Wales, it provides a massive amount of information about a country William knew little of.

In Domesday, Max Adams enjoys a cross country wander using the Domesday book as his guide. He unearths interesting facts for each location and notes the property value (land and otherwise) and taxes claimed by the crown in the survey. In giving a walking commentary he shares the story of what had happened before, during and after the Norman conquest. He also enjoyed a number of well earned beers along the way. This was a travelogue/memoir heavily woven with historical tid bits making for great insight into past events and explaining why some areas had changed drastically from their entry in the Domesday manuscript. Of course I loved the sections of the book centered around areas I know but those not of my acquaintance were also of worth noting. This book has given me quite a list of places I should go visit based on their historical significance.