Bithen in the Domesday Book (1086)

The settlement of Bithen is recorded in William I’s Domesday survey of 1086, entered under the hundred of Ainsty in Yorkshire.

Other Settlements in Ainsty

• Acaster [Malbis]
• Acaster [Selby]
• Acomb
• Appleton [Roebuck]
• Askham [Bryan]
• Askham [Richard]
• Bickerton
• Bilbrough
• Bilton
• Bishopthorpe
• Bolton [Percy]
• Catterton
• Colton
• Copmanthorpe

The Meaning of the Name

The origin of the name Bithen is not securely established from its modern form alone; like many settlement names in the North it likely combines an Old English or Old Norse personal name with a landscape term.

Remarkably, the name has changed little since 1086, when the Domesday scribes wrote it as Bithen.

Listed Buildings Near Bithen

Historic England records 29 listed buildings within about a mile of Bithen. Listing protects structures of special architectural or historic interest, graded I (exceptional), II* (particularly important) and II.

Grade I

• Bishopthorpe Palace and Chapel - 0.66 km

Grade II*

• Middlethorpe Hall - 0.31 km
• The Stables to Bishopthorpe Palace - 0.64 km
• Gatehouse and Walls Adjoining to Bishopthorpe Palace - 0.69 km

Grade II

• Bishopthorpe walled kitchen gardens, their associated brick lean-to buildings and canalised stream - 0.32 km
• Dovecote Approximately 50 Metres South East of Middlethorpe Hall - 0.35 km
• Folly in Grounds of Bishopthorpe Palace - 0.43 km
• Middlethorpe Manor - 0.54 km
• Church of St Andrew - 0.59 km
• Brewsters Cottage and Brewhouse - 0.63 km
• Bishopthorpe Garth - 0.65 km
• War Memorial - 0.67 km
• Sundial Approximately 10 Metres South-east of Bishopthorpe Palace - 0.68 km
• Wall and archway adjoining Bishopthorpe Palace to right - 0.7 km
• Garth Cottage and Garth Mews, Gatehouses to Bishopthorpe Garth - 0.71 km
• Priory Corner - 0.75 km
• Ruined Church of St Andrew - 0.76 km
• Stables, Wall and Gate-piers to the Whitehouse - 0.77 km
• The Whitehouse - 0.78 km
• The Cottage - 0.78 km
• Chestnut Cottage - 0.79 km
• The Chantry - 0.8 km
• The Ebor Inn - 0.85 km
• Fulford Hall - 1.13 km

…and 5 more listed structures in the area.

Nearby Domesday Settlements

Other places recorded in the 1086 survey within a few miles:

• Middlethorpe - 0.0 km N
• Water Fulford - 1.0 km E
• Bishopthorpe - 1.0 km S
• Mulede - 1.0 km S
• Mulehale - 1.0 km S
• Mulhede - 1.0 km S