Balsham in the Domesday Book

A village in Radfield hundred, in the county of Cambridgeshire.

Four manors recorded in Domesday.

• 1st Manor

  • Lord of the Manor in 1066: Abbey of Ely St Etheldreda
  • Tenant in Chief in 1086: Abbey of Ely
  • Lord of the Manor in 1086: Abbey of Ely
  • Taxable Value: 9 geld
  • Value to Lord of the Manor: £12 in 1066; £10 in 1070; £17 in 1086
  • Households: 12 villagers; 12 smallholders; 2 slaves
  • Plough Teams: 5 lord's ploughs; 12 men's ploughs (19 plough lands)
  • Meadow: 12 acres
  • Woodland: 200 pigs
  • Mills: 1, value 4 shillings

• 2nd Manor

  • Overlord in 1066: Abbey of Ely St Etheldreda
  • Lord of the Manor in 1066: Freemen, three
  • Tenant in Chief in 1086: Abbey of Ely
  • Lord of the Manor in 1086: Hardwin of Scales (subinfeudated)
  • Taxable Value: ⁵⁄₈ geld
  • Value to Lord of the Manor: 13/2½ in 1066; 13/2½ in 1070; 13/2½ in 1086

• 3rd Manor

  • Overlord in 1066: Abbey of Ely St Etheldreda
  • Lord of the Manor in 1066: Freemen, three
  • Tenant in Chief in 1086: Hardwin of Scales
  • Lord of the Manor in 1086: Hardwin of Scales
  • Taxable Value: ⁵⁄₈ geld
  • Value to Lord of the Manor: 13/2½ in 1066; 13/2½ in 1086

• 4th Manor

  • Overlord in 1066: Edeva the fair
  • Lord of the Manor in 1066: Leoffled
  • Tenant in Chief in 1086: Count Alan
  • Lord of the Manor in 1086: Almer of Bourn (subinfeudated)
  • Taxable Value: ³⁄₈ geld