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Domesday Book


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British History

Raskelf in the Domesday Book (1086)

Raskelf is named in the Domesday Book, compiled by Norman commissioners in 1086, entered under the hundred of Bulford in Yorkshire. The survey assessed Raskelf at 0.5 carucates of taxable land.

At the time of the survey, Raskelf supported a recorded population of 7 villagers, 5 smallholders, 5 slaves, working 2 ploughs between them.

Something went badly wrong here between the two surveys. Before 1066, Raskelf was worth 4 shillings; by 1086 that had dropped to 3 shillings – a fall of 25%. Most Yorkshire villages that lost value on this scale were swept up in the Harrying of the North – William’s scorched-earth campaign of 1069–70.