The Domesday Book Online

[home] [the domesday book] [background] [links] [FAQs] [glossary] [contact]

compiling the domesday book | contents | landowners | domesday history

Related Links

Glossary

Place name origins

Domesday landowners

How the Domesday Book was compiled

What information is in the Domesday Book?

How many Domesday places exist now?

Kent A-E

Acrise
Acers: Ansketel de Rots from Bishop of Bayeux. Church.
Deserted. Acrise Place, a Tudor mansion was owned by the Papillon family.
Addington
Ralph son of Thorold from Bishop of Bayeux. Church, 2 mills.
2 Neolithic tombs are nearby.
Adisham
Edesham: Archbishop of Canterbury's monks.
Sprawling.
Aldglose
Aldelose: Bishop of Bayeux, but outside his territory.
Outskirts of Brabourne.
Aldington (near Hythe)
Aldintone: Archbishop of Canterbury. Church, 3 mills, 3 fisheries.
Home of Elizabeth Barton, Holy Maid of Kent, a servant who claimed to see visions. She was hanged in 1534 after denouncing Henry VIII's marriage to Anne Boleyn.
Aldington (in Thurnham)
Audintone: Ansgot of Rochester from Bishop of Bayeux. Church, mill.
Part of Thurnham village.
Allington (in Hollingbourne)
Alnoitone: Hugh de Port from Bishop of Bayeux. Church, 2½ mills.
Allington Farm.
Allington (near Maidstone)
Elentun: Ansketel from Bishop of Bayeux. Church, ½ mill.
Moated Allington Castle, founded soon after the Conquest and restored in the 20th century, belongs to the Carmelite Fathers. Sir Thomas Wyatt, Tudor poet and courtier, was born here.
Appledore
Apeldres: Archbishop of Canterbury's monks. Church, 6 fisheries.
On the edge of Romney Marsh. Danish stronghold in the Andred Forest, and a busy port until the River Rother changed course in 1287.
Appleton
Apletone: Ralph from Bishop of Bayeux.
Appleton Manor.
Arnolton
Ernoltun / ultone: Ansfrid from Bishop of Bayeux; Ranulf. 2 salthouses, with 1 dwelling in the City of Canterbury.
Lost.
Ash
Eisse: Hugh de Port from Bishop of Bayeux.
On downland; 17th century manor house.
Ashenfield
Esmerefel: Ansketel from St. Augustine's abbey.
Ashenfield Farm.
Ashford
Allia Essetesford: Maino from Hugh de Montfort. Church, 2 mills.
London dormitory town with busy market and industry.
Atterton
Etretone: Hugh de Montfort, but part claimed by Canons of St. Martins of Dover. Mill.
Part of Dover.
Aylesford
Elesford: King's land. Mill.
Picturesque. Hengist and Horsa defeated the British here in 455. The first Carmelite Friary was founded here in 1292 and restored in 1949.

Badlesmere
Badelesmore / Bedenesmere: Bishop of Bayeux, claimed by St. Augustine's Abbey before 1066. Church, fishery.
Tiny church.
Barfreston
Berfrestone: Ralph de Courbépine from Bishop of Bayeux; a poor woman paid 3½d.
Isolated on hilltop. The Norman church, built of flint and Caen stone at time of Domesday, is noted for its carved-stone decorations.
Barham
Berham: Fulbert from Bishop of Bayeux. Church, 3 mills, 25 fisheries.
Prehistoric earthwork, Roman burial mounds and Saxon cemetery on Barham Downs.
Beamonston
Betmontestun:
Lost.
Beauxfield
Bevesfel:
Lost.
Beckenham
Bacheham: Ansgot of Rochester from Bishop of Bayeux. Mill.
Residential London suburb.
Beckley
Bichelei: Adam from Bishop of Bayeux. Mill.
Beckley Hill in industrial marshland.
Bekesbourne
Burnes / Borne: Bishop of Bayeux; St. Augustine's Abbey. Church, mill, salthouse, 1½ fisheries.
Archbishop Cranmer lived here.
Bensted
Benedestede: Aethelwold also holds BENSTED from the Bishop [of Bayeux]; Robert holds it at a revenue. It answers for 1 yoke. Land for ....In lordship 1 plough, with 5 slaves. Meadow, 1 acre; woodland, 6 pigs. Value before 1066 and later 20s; now 40s. Godric held it from Young Alnoth.
Lost.
Berwick
Berewic: William of Adisham from Archbishop of Canterbury.

Betteshanger
Bedesham: Osbern son of Ledhard from Bishop of Bayeux.
Site of lost medieval village; mansion in parkland.
Bexley
Bix: Archbishop of Canterbury. Church, 3 mills.
Thames-side London borough.
Bilsington
Bilsuitone: Bishop of Bayeux. Church, 10 salthouses, 2 fisheries.
On the edge of Romney Marsh.
Birling
Berlinge: Ralph de Courbèpine from Bishop of Bayeux. Church, mill, fishery (60 eels). 330 eels.
Attractive.
Bishopsbourne
Burnes: Archbishop of Canterbury. Church, 2 mills.
Writer Joseph Conrad lived in what is now the rectory for 5 years before his death in 1924.
Blackmanstone
Blachemenestone: Harvey from Hugh de Montfort. Church; named after Blackman, who held it formerly.
Deserted.
Blean
Bleham: Hamo the Sheriff. Church, fishery.
Once in the royal forest of Blean; Blean Woods and Dunkirk Woods nearby (now a nature reserve) are all that remain.
Bodsham
Bodesham: Geoffrey from St. Augustine's Abbey.
Now Bodsham Green.
Bonnington
Bonintone: William son of Gross from Hugh de Montfort. Church.
The church, of Norman foundations, is dedicated to St. Rumbold, who, legend has it, professed Christianity and preached a sermon before he died aged 3 days.
Borstal
Borchetelle / Borcstele: Bishop of Rochester. 2 mills.
The first Borstal institution for young offenders was established here in 1901.
Boswell Banks
Brochestele:
Lost.
Boughton Aluph
Boltune: Count Eustace. Church, 2 mills.
Boughton Court manor house. A fireplace in the church porch may have been used by medieval pilgrims.
Boughton Malherbe
Boltone: Ralph son of Thorold from Archbishop of Canterbury; Hugh nephew of Herbert from Bishop of Bayeux. 2 churches.
Fine views across the Weald. Sir Henry Wotton, the Elizabethan poet and diplomat, lived in the manor house behind the church.
Bowley
Bogelei: Bishop of Bayeux. Church, mill.
Bowley Farm.
Boxley
Boseleu: Robert Latimer from Bishop of Bayeux. 3 mills.
At the foot of the Downs. Boxley Abbey, founded 1146, was famous for its Rood of Grace on which Christ's figure miraculously moved; exposed as a mechanical fraud in 1539. The abbey's 13th century tithe barn still stands.
Brabourne
Brade / Breburne: Hugh de Montfort. Church, 2 mills.

Brasted
Briestede: Hamo the Sheriff holds BRASTED from the Archbishop [of Canterbury]. It answers for 1½ sulungs. Land for 10 ploughs. In lordship 2. 24 villagers with 16 smallholders have 12 ploughs. A church; 15 slaves; 2 mills at 24s; woodland, 80 pigs; from grazing, 9s 6d. In total, value before 1066 £10; as much when acquired; now £17. Abbot Alnoth held this manor from the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Napoleon III lived at Brasted Place in 1840 before returning to France, eventually to become Emperor.
Brenzett
Brand(et) / Brensete: Canons of St. Martin's of Dover.
In the Romney Marsh on the line of the ancient Rhee Wall.
Bromley
Bronlei: Bishop of Rochester. Mill.
Founded 862; the Bishops were Lords of the Manor until 1845; the market, granted in 1205, is still there. H.G. Wells was born here.
Broomfield
Brunfelle: Robert Latimer from Bishop of Bayeux. Mill.

Buckland (near Dover)
Bocheland(e): Alwin from Canons of St. Martin's of Dover.
Part of Dover.
Buckland (in Luddenham)
Alius Bocheland / Bocheland / Tercius Bocheland: Osbern and Thurstan de Gironde from Bishop of Bayeux.
Parish with Roman villa site.
Buckwell
Berchuelle: Wadard from Bishop of Bayeux. Mill.
Buckwell Farm.
Burham
Borham: Ralph de Courbèpine from Bishop of Bayeux. Church, mill.
The manor, church, and part of the old village lie adjacent to modern Burham. A Roman villa site is nearby.
Burmarsh
Borchemeres / Burwarmaresc: St. Augustine's Abbey.
Isolated.

Canterbury
Cantuaria / iensis: Under the King's jurisdiction; Ralph de Courbèpine held 4 houses which Harold's concubine had held. 3 mills.
Cathedral city with Norman walls. Building of the cathedral started in 1070.
Chalk
Celca: Adam from Bishop of Bayeux. Church, mill.
Part of Gravesend, where Charles Dickens spent his honeymoon.
Charing
Cheringes: Archbishop of Canterbury. Mill.
Attractive; part of 14th century archbishop's palace (now a farmhouse), where Henry VIII stayed on his way to Field of the Cloth of Gold.
Charlton (near Dover)
Cerlentone: Ralph of St. Samson and William FitzOdger from Canons of St. Martin's of Dover.
Part of Dover.
Charlton (near Greenwich)
Cerletone: Sutton, Greenwich; William FitzOdger from Bishop of Bayeux.
Absorbed by Greenwich.
Chart Sutton
Certh: Adam FitzHubert from Bishop of Bayeux. Church, vines, park of wild beasts.
Surrounded by orchards.
Chartham
Certeham: Archbishop of Canterbury's monks. Church, 5½ mills.
In the Stour valley; paper mill; angling centre.
Chatham
Ceteham: Robert Latimer from Bishop of Bayeux. Church, mill, 6 fisheries.
Elizabeth I established the dockyards (now closed), where the ships that sank the Spanish Armada were built. Sir Francis Drake and Lord Nelson sailed from here and Charles Dickens spent part of his childhood here when his father was a dockyard pay clerk. Chatham is one of a group of villages in the area named after the river
Chelsfield
Ciresfel: Arnulf de Hesdin from Bishop of Bayeux. Mill.
On high ground.
Chilham
Cilleham: Fulbert from Bishop of Bayeux. Church, 2 fisheries, 6½ mills.
Famed for its beauty. The castle combines a 12th century keep with a 17th century Jacobean mansion, containing a Battle of Britain museum; traces of a Roman camp in the grounds.
Chillenden
Cilledene: Osbern FitzLedhard from Bishop of Bayeux.
Near coalfields; century-old windmill on the Downs above.
Chislet
Cistelet: St. Augustine's Abbey. 4 French men-at-arms held what was valued at £12 a year. Church, 47 salthouses (50 packloads of salt), vines.
Scattered.
Cliffe
Clive: Land of Archbishop of Canterbury's monks; Arnulf de Hesdin from Bishop of Bayeux.
Fine Norman church.
Coldred
Colret: Ralph de Courbèpine from Bishop of Bayeux.
Saxon church, probably built on a Roman earthwork.
Cooling
Colinge / s: Adam and Odo from Bishop Bayeux.
Marsh; setting for Charles Dicken's novel Great Expectations. 14th century Cooling Castle was the home of Sir John Oldcastle, the Lollard leader hanged and burned as a heretic in 1417, on whom Shakespeare is said to have modelled his character Falstaff.
Coombegrove
Cumbe: Wadard from Bishop of Bayeux.
Big. Coombe Manor.
Court-at-Street
Estraites: Hugh de Mandeville from Hugh de Montfort. Church.

Crayford
Erhede: Archbishop of Canterbury. Church, 3 mills.
Industrial area of Greater London; site of a large Iron Age settelement and the Roman town of Noviomagus.
Crofton
Croctune: Ansketel from Bishop of Bayeux.
Part of Bromley.
Cudham
Codeham: Gilbert Maminot from Bishop of Bayeux. Church, 2 mills.
Surrounded by orchards.
Cuxton
Coclestane: Bishop of Rochester. Church, mill.
Dormitory for London; cement works.

Darenth
Tarent: Archbishop of Canterbury; Ansketel de Rots from Bishop of Bayeux. 4 mills.
Partly Saxon church; site of a large Roman villa; mill on the River Darent.
Dartford
Tarentefort: King's land. Mill, 3 churches, 2 harbours.
Industrial town on the River Darent with a 2000-year history. Locally born Wat Tyler started his revolt against poll tax here in 1381.
Deal
Addela: Archdeacon Ansketel, Aethelwold, St. Augustine's Abbey and William FitzThorold from Canons of St. Martin's of Dover.
One of the Cinque Ports, now a resort town. Julius Caesar landed near here in 55BC.
Dean
Dena / ne: Aethelwold from Bishop of Bayeux.
Now Dean Court, off the Pilgrim's Way.
Dengemarsh
Maresc: Robert of Romney from Bishop of Bayeux. Fishery.
Tract of land and coastguard station near Dungeness.
Denton (near Barham)
Danetone: Bishop of Bayeux and Ralph de Courbèpine from him. Church.
Half-timbered cottages round a green.
Denton (near Gravesend)
Danitone: Bishop of Rochester. Church.
Suburb of Gravesend, with a wharf on the River Thames.
Dernedale
Darenden:
Lost.
Ditton
Dictune: Hamo the Sheriff from Bishop of Bayeux. Church, mill.
Round a green, now much extended; near paper mills.
Dover
Dovera / e: King William burnt the town when he invaded England so its value could be fairly reckoned when Bishop of Bayeux acquired it. 2 mills, 3 churches. The king received fines from men who committed adultery in most parts of Kent; women's fines were paid to the Archbishop. The king also received half the goods of anyone condemned to death.
Busy Channel port with Saxon church of St. Mary in Castro; 40ft high remains of Roman lighthouse. 12th century Dover Castle is built on the site of an early Norman castle.

Each
Ece: Osbern FitzLedhard from Bishop of Bayeux. Church, mill.
Manor farm.
Easole
Essewelle / Eswalt: Ralph de Coubèpine from Bishop of Bayeux.

East Barming
Bermelinge: Richard FitzGilbert. Mill.
Absorbed by Maidstone.
Eastbridge
Estbrie:
Lost in Romney Marsh; ruined church.
East Farleigh
Ferlega: Archbishop of Canterbury's monks. 4 mills, 6 fisheries (1200 eels).
Fine medieval bridge, over which General Fairfax marched in 1648 to the Battle of Maidstone.
East Lenham
Ler(t)ham: Geoffrey the Steward from Archbishop of Canterbury. Mill.

Eastling
Eslinges: Roger Ansketel and Fulbert from Bishop of Bayeux. 2 churches, 2 mills.

East Malling
Mellingetes: Archbishop of Canterbury. Church, 2 mills.
Large.
East Peckham
Pecheham: Archbishop of Canterbury before and after 1066. Church, mill.
Large.
Eastry
Estrei: Archbishop of Canterbury's monks. 1½ mills, 3 salthouses.
Eastry Court is said to stand on the site of an ancient royal hall.
Eastwell
Estwelle: Hugh de Montfort.
Eastwell Park. The ruined church has a tomb reputed to be that of Richard Plantagenet, son of Richard III. He is said to have escaped after the Battle of Bosworth to the Eastwell estate, where he became a bricklayer.
Eccles
Aiglessa: Ralph FitzThorold from Bishop of Bayeux.

Elham
Alham: Bishop of Bayeux. Church, 2 mills.
Large; houses set round a market square; royal charter granted in 1251. The Duke of Wellington made 17th century Abbot's Fireside his temporary headquarters during the Napoleonic Wars.
Elmstone
Aelvetone: Ansfrid from St. Augustine's Abbey.

Elmton
Esmetone:
Lost.
Eltham
Alteham: Hamo the Sheriff from Bishop of Bayeux.
London suburb. Once the site of one of the largest medieval royal palaces. The 15th century Great Hall still stands. William Roper, son-in-law and biographer of Sir Thomas More, lived at the now vansihed Well Hall. In the 19th century the hall was owned by Hubert Bland, founder member of the Fabian Society.
Evegate
Tevegate: Hugh de Montfort.
Evegate Manor Farm.
Eynsford
Elesford: Ralph son of Ospak from Archbishop of Canterbury. 2 churches, 2 mills.
Pretty, moated castle dating from 1100; ford.