D is for Domesday

One of the oldest written records of Loughborough is the entry in the Domesday Book of 1086. Of course, over the years there have been many variations of the spelling of the town's name (as indeed there still are today!) so the Domesday entry refers to Lucteburne. 

If I've understood it correctly, the above transcription of the Domesday Book entry for Loughborough suggests that Loughborough has a population of about 39 households, which is actually a record of the head of the household, so by the time you add in a wife, and offspring, that means there were probably about 180-200 people living in Loughborough. When compared with other settlements, this means Loughborough falls within the largest 20%.

Further, there are 8 villagers; 15 freemen, and 16 smallholders. Ploughland is 5 lord's plough teams, and 12.5 men's plough teams. There are 45 acres of meadowland, and woodland of 7 furlongs long, by 3 furlongs wide. There are two mills, valued at 10 shillings.

In 1086, there were about eighteen towns with a population of over 2,000, and around 112 smaller towns. Thinking of Loughborough's 39 households, here's the number of households in some other places, as a comparison: 

Dishley 47; Barrow-on-Soar 8; Hathern 14; Rothley 23; Shepshed 76; Ashby-de-la-Zouch 21; Hinckley 69; Leicester 71; Nottingham 165, and Birmingham only 9!

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This post is one in a series of posts in the 2024 'Blogging from A-Z April challenge'

 

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Posted by lynneaboutloughborough

With apologies for typos which are all mine!

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