Bee catching in the 11th century
The Norfolk rag the EDP has already taken a peek and discovered a few treasures:
“It is an insight into a time when Yarmouth paid 12 pence in land tax to the king, when you might also pay taxes in honey and hawks, and woodland was classed by how many pigs it could feed. Written on 900 sheepskins using goose-feather quills, the book was commissioned in 1085 by William the Conqueror to help him decide how much to charge his subjects.”
I didn’t realise there were actually two books, the Great Domesday and Little Domesday, with the Little version covering the East Anglian counties of Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk. The entry for Norwich has the only bear in the Domesday book, which shows there was bear-baiting.
Did you know that if you killed a man in Chester on a Sunday and Holy days, you would be fined £4, but half that much on all other days. It obviously paid to keep your temper under control at those times. (I thought they were hanged in those days for murder!)
Instead of finding out more, I’m heading back to Burnham Market for a few more special memories.
In mediaeval times it was illegal for a Welshman to be found inside the walls of Chester after sunset – as I keep reminding Keith! 😉
Blimey, thanks for the link!
Jennyta, Was it illegal for women too? I wonder what the punishment was, a flogging? Being banished to the cowshed for the night?
Icedink, where are you from in East Anglia, or is that a closely guarded secret?
St Neots now, Duxford for eight years previously, Cambridge 22 years ago – just off Sturton Street. Lived away for a few years too, journeyman. Once went for a job at the Evening News but got knocked back by Bob Satchwell. Also worked on the Crow very, very many years ago. My dream job now, I suppose, would be to edit the Ely Standard from that wonderful little office – providing, of course, I could keep London money!