1087 The doomsday book

It was 20 years after the Battle of Hastings that King William decided to take stock of his kingdom. His commissioners travelled the land, meeting men from each town, village or hamlet, who were sworn to tell the truth. In the Hundred of Tendring in Essex, there is an entry for Dovercourt but no mention of Harwich. This can only mean that in 1087 there was nothing worth mentioning where Harwich stands now.

The explanation seems to be that Harwich was not then at the tip of the peninsula controlling the entrance to the harbour because the estuary of the Orwell and the Stour was somewhere near, or slightly to the north of, the present pier at Felixstowe. It is assumed that the shingle built up at the mouth of the estuary until, as a result of gales and floods about the year 1100, the river changed direction and burst through marshy land to the sea along its present course - although the estuary would be very much narrower than it is now. The name Herwyz or Herewyk does not appears until early in the 13th Century. The origin is obscure, but it is thought to mean 'army village'.

The entry in the Domesday Book concerning Dovercourt is in an abbreviated form of Latin, which may be translated thus:

'DRUVRECURT, which Ulwin held as a manor of 6 hides, is held by Aubrey in the demesne. In the time of King Edward there were 8 villeins, now 6: there were then 6 bordars, now 12. Then, as now, there are 6 serfs and 3 ploughs on the demesne and 6 ploughs belonging to the men. There are 3 acres of meadow with pasture for 200 sheep. There were then 3 rounceys, 12 beasts, 200 sheep and 40 swine, and now the same. It was then worth £6 and now £12.

The object of the survey was to note who held the land, what changes had taken place, and what it was worth in 1086, compared with its value in 1066.

Aubrey de Vere or Alberic gained the lands from Ulwin who was brother of King Harold. Aubrey became Earl of Oxford.

Demesne: The lord's private land, cultivated by his tenants as part of their compulsory service

Villein: Held about 30 acres of land and, in return, worked on the demesne. He was required to make 'gifts' of eggs, poultry, honey, cheese etc as set down on the Manor Court Roll. Besides the regular 2 or 3 days of 'week work', the villein was liable for extra 'boon work' at busy times such as harvest and hay-making. The villeins had 6 ploughs (48 oxen) which meant that each man had his own team. This was unusual.

Bordars: Often the younger sons of villeins who had a cottage and a few acres of land and worked one day each week for the overlord. They earned a living as village blacksmith, carpenter, shepherd, swineherd etc. Sometimes they worked as labourers for their lord or for a villein who could find the money for wages.

Serfs: Almost slaves and worked as servants. The lord had 3 ploughs and 2 serfs looked after each plough team, which consisted of 8 oxen. Aubrey therefore had 24 oxen for ploughing. The beasts mentioned were cattle other than the plough teams.

Pasture: The sheep pasture would be on the marshes, where shepherds milked the ewes and made cheese in a shed called a 'wick'. Wick Lane still remains.