Shenley in the Domesday Book

A village in Danish hundred, in the county of Hertfordshire.

Three manors recorded in Domesday.

• 1st Manor

  • Overlord in 1066: Esger the constable
  • Lords of the Manor in 1066: Esger the constable; Freemen, two
  • Tenant in Chief in 1086: Geoffrey de Mandeville
  • Lord of the Manor in 1086: Geoffrey de Mandeville
  • Taxable Value: 8 ³⁄₄ geld
  • Value to Lord of the Manor: £8 in 1066; £5 in 1070; £4 in 1086
  • Households: 12 villagers
  • Plough Teams: 2 lord's ploughs; 4 men's ploughs (9 plough lands)
  • Meadow: 1 plough
  • Woodland: 600 pigs

• 2nd Manor

  • Lord of the Manor in 1066: Abbey of St Albans
  • Tenant in Chief in 1086: Abbey of St Alban's
  • Lord of the Manor in 1086: Abbey of St Alban's
  • Taxable Value: 6 geld
  • Value to Lord of the Manor: £6 in 1066; £6 in 1070; £12 in 1086
  • Households: 11 villagers; 3 cottagers; 1 cottager
  • Plough Teams: 2 lord's ploughs; 5 men's ploughs (8 plough lands)
  • Meadow: ¹⁄₂ plough
  • Woodland: 400 pigs

• 3rd Manor

  • Overlords in 1066: Earl Leofwin; King Edward
  • Lord of the Manor in 1066: Freeman, one
  • Tenant in Chief in 1086: Count of Mortain
  • Lord of the Manor in 1086: Ranulf (subinfeudated)
  • Taxable Value: 1 geld
  • Value to Lord of the Manor: £4 in 1066; £3 in 1070; 5 shillings in 1086
  • Households: 2 smallholders
  • Woodland: 100 pigs