I'm looking for a book (or ten) on the British medieval manor system (from Norman times to Tudor times, or so). I want to know everything, in vivid detail: what a manor was, what a village could look like, who the fields were tended, what crops was used, who many pigs there were, when rye was planted, who the market functioned. It doesn't have to be the most up to date info, but I would like to find a really comprehensive, detailed book (or more).

well i dont think there are Pictures but if u want a manor Broken down use the Doomesday Book compiled during william the conquerers reign!! Its epic!

You will need more than one book.
Start with everything by the Gies husband-wife team.
I am currently drawing up a bibliography of my sources for my latest releases (ESTATE, WARLORDS, UTHER) and I'll try to start with the ones you want.
For starters:



I'm looking for a book (or ten) on the British medieval manor system (from Norman times to Tudor times, or so). I want to know everything, in vivid detail: what a manor was,
Domesday Book and Beyond, Three Essays in the Early History of England. Frederick William Maitland; Cambridge: at the University Press, 1921.
This is one of those Victorian works that astonish me with the breadth and depth of their insight. Though nearly a century old it still stands as the backbone of Domesday studies. It explores the meaning of the ancient book, for instance defining manor (not the same as in King Arthur Pendragon, by the way). It might be difficult to someone without some essential vocabulary, for which King Arthur Pendragon may be sufficient. Obligatory reading for all scholars of the Middle Ages.

what a village could look like,
No standard, really
for towns: Medieval Town Plans, by Paul Hindle
Early Medieval Towns in Britain, Jeremy Haslam

who the fields were tended,
The Geis books

what crops was used,

who many pigs there were,
The Domesday Geography of [part] of Britain
A whole set, with Easter, Southern, etc.
Each county has the Domesday facts on pigs

when rye was planted, who the market functioned.
never seen it myself
However, rye is a really hardy grass but yields less per acre
so the farther north you go, the more rye there is
and the less wheat
and barley is the most common anyway

It doesn't have to be the most up to date info, but I would like to find a really comprehensive, detailed book (or more).

If you find that ONE, let me know. :)

Thanks Greg!



Domesday Book and Beyond, Three Essays in the Early History of England. Frederick William Maitland; Cambridge: at the University Press, 1921. This is one of those Victorian works that astonish me with the breadth and depth of their insight. Though nearly a century old it still stands as the backbone of Domesday studies. It explores the meaning of the ancient book, for instance defining manor (not the same as in King Arthur Pendragon, by the way). It might be difficult to someone without some essential vocabulary, for which King Arthur Pendragon may be sufficient. Obligatory reading for all scholars of the Middle Ages.
Got it, I will take a look at it. The Swedish Royal Library database (all university libraries in Sweden) actually records a whopping four copies of the book ... None at my home university, alas.



If you find that ONE, let me know. :)

Oh, I sure will!

Richest source for this, somewhat dated, material is Google Books
Usually you can download the entire book as a free pdf, e.g.

http://books.google.com/books?id=wT0LAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22do mesday+book%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=AB66UMLFFbG40QGL9IGwC Q&ved=0CEEQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=%22domesday%20book%2 2&f=false

Also check scholar.google.com, for academic material (only some of which
is online).

Mark

Richest source for this, somewhat dated, material is Google Books
Usually you can download the entire book as a free pdf, e.g.

http://books.google.com/books?id=wT0LAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22do mesday+book%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=AB66UMLFFbG40QGL9IGwC Q&ved=0CEEQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=%22domesday%20book%2 2&f=false

Also check scholar.google.com, for academic material (only some of which
is online).

Mark

Thanks, I already has that one on a table at home!

I also found The Agrarian History of England and Wales: Volume 2, 1042-1350 and The Agrarian History of England and Wales: Volume 3, 1348-1500, two 1000 page tome bursting with information. Just awesome. Just don't try to read them all, they will last a life time.