Domesday Delving

By: Claire Stephen-Walker
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  • Summary

  • Domesday Delving is a journey back in time to explore the hidden histories of England's towns and villages as recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. From the lives of local peasants and the roles of medieval churches to the power struggles between lords, each episode offers an engaging and in-depth look at a different location in medieval England. Whether you have a personal connection to a place or are simply curious about the past, Domesday Delving brings history to life with vivid storytelling and expert insights.

    Episodes are uploaded weekly on Tuesdays.
    Claire Stephen-Walker
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Social Sciences World
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Episodes
  • DD - Episode 34 - Saltby

    DD - Episode 34 - Saltby
    Apr 15 2025
    Saltby in Leicestershire is no sleepy Domesday backwater. In 1086, it was a bustling, high-output manor with an astonishing workforce: 24 villans, 23 sokemen, 14 bordars and 16 slaves.

    Once held by Earl Morcar, the rebellious Anglo-Saxon noble and son of Lady Godiva, Saltby passed into the hands of Norman baron Roger de Bully after the Conquest but its productivity didn’t falter.

    In this episode of Domesday Delving, we explore the remarkable scale of Saltby’s agricultural economy, uncover the biography of the powerful and ill-fated Earl Morcar, and delve into the lives of those who made the land work including those who had no freedom to call their own.It’s a story of hierarchy, continuity, and quiet endurance set in the fields of a village that still remembers its name, but not always its past.

    Here’s the link to the brand-new Patreon account - patreon.com/DomesdayDelving

    If you enjoy high-stakes storytelling, don’t forget to check out my cyberpunk novel Kidnap—available now: https://books2read.com/u/3JwE0e

    Until next time, keep delving!
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    15 mins
  • DD - Episode 33 - Corby

    DD - Episode 33 - Corby
    Apr 8 2025
    In this episode of Domesday Delving, we explore the curious note that "many things are wanting to this manor"—including woodland and ironworks that had belonged to it in the time of King Edward. What happened in the twenty years between the Confessor’s reign and the Domesday survey to cause such loss? And what can Corby’s vanished iron industry tell us about resilience, change, and the fragility of local economies in the wake of conquest?
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    13 mins
  • DD - Episode 32 - Camelot

    DD - Episode 32 - Camelot
    Mar 31 2025
    Sometimes, Domesday surprises even me. In this episode of Domesday Delving, we explore an unexpected and little-known entry recorded near the Welsh border: Camelot. With its mix of ploughland, meadows, a vineyard, and a hall already falling into disrepair by 1086, this manor raises fascinating questions about the line between history and legend.

    We’ll look at the landholders before and after the Conquest, including a shadowy figure named Earl Artor, and explore what this record can teach us about medieval administration, cultural memory, and the persistence of local tradition. Plus, we dive into the Arthurian mythos, its early sources, and why stories of Camelot still resonate today.

    And if you enjoy a good mystery, my cyberpunk novel Kidnap is out now! You can find it here: https://books2read.com/u/3JwE0e

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    21 mins
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Profile Image for Tom Allman

Brilliant!

Thank You for making this Podcast! The book itself is fascinating but is just a government document. The podcast brings is it to life in an engaging and charming way. I'll be following along.

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