Princes Risborough - Risborough in 1086

Risborough in 1086

At the time of the Domesday survey in 1086, Princes Risborough was a royal manor held by the King, having been a village of King Harold before the conquest. It was part of the Hundred of Risborough, which also comprised Bledlow, Horsenden and (Monks) Risborough.

It was assessed at 30 hides both before and after the conquest, of which 20 hides related to the demesne. The manor had land for 24 ploughs, four of them in the lord's demesne. There were 30 villagers and they together with 12 bordars (cottagers or small holders) had 20 ploughs. There were 3 slaves. There were 2 mills, worth 14s 8d a year, meadow for 7 ploughteams (generally taken as needing 8 oxen each) and woodland sufficient for 1,000 pigs. In total it paid £47 a year in white silver, less 16d. Before 1066 it only paid £10 at face value (i.e. without weighing the coins). Furthermore a burgess of Oxford paid 2s and a saltboiler of Droitwich an amount left blank. A freeman held 3 virgates and had the right to sell his land, though it was said that he served the sheriff.

The persons mentioned would have been only the heads of families, and so the total population of the manor (on the usual reckoning of 4.5 persons per family) would have been in the region of 200 people.