Biddenham in the Domesday Book

A village in Buckelowe hundred, in the county of Bedfordshire.

Ten manors recorded in Domesday.

• 1st Manor

  • Lord of the Manor in 1066: Freemen, eleven
  • Tenant in Chief in 1086: William Speke
  • Lords of the Manor in 1086: Serlo of Rots (subinfeudated); Ralph Passwater (subinfeudated)
  • Taxable Value: 3 ⁵⁄₈ geld
  • Value to Lord of the Manor: £2 in 1066; £1 in 1070; £2 in 1086
  • Households: 6 villagers; 2 smallholders; 2 slaves
  • Plough Teams: 2 lord's ploughs; 2 men's ploughs (4 plough lands)
  • Meadow: 4 ploughs
  • Mills: 1, value 10 shillings

• 2nd Manor

  • Overlord in 1066: Bishop of Lincoln St Mary
  • Lord of the Manor in 1066: Leofric
  • Tenant in Chief in 1086: Bishop of Lincoln
  • Lord of the Manor in 1086: Ernwin the priest (subinfeudated)
  • Taxable Value: 1 ¹⁄₄ geld
  • Value to Lord of the Manor: £2 in 1066; £2 in 1086
  • Households: 1 villager
  • Meadow: 1 plough
  • Mills: 1, value £1 5/-

• 3rd Manor

  • Lord of the Manor in 1066: Ordwy of Bedford
  • Tenant in Chief in 1086: Ordwy of Bedford
  • Lord of the Manor in 1086: Ordwy of Bedford
  • Taxable Value: 1 ¹⁄₈ geld
  • Value to Lord of the Manor: 10 shillings in 1066; 10 shillings in 1070; 10 shillings in 1086
  • Households: 2 villagers; 1 smallholder
  • Meadow: 1 plough

• 4th Manor

  • Lord of the Manor in 1066: Godwin the burgess
  • Tenant in Chief in 1086: Godwin the burgess
  • Lord of the Manor in 1086: Godwin the burgess
  • Taxable Value: 1 geld
  • Value to Lord of the Manor: 10 shillings in 1066; 10 shillings in 1070; 10 shillings in 1086
  • Plough Teams: 1 lord's plough (1 plough land)
  • Meadow: 1 plough

• 5th Manor

  • Overlord in 1066: Queen Edith
  • Lord of the Manor in 1066: Alsi of Bromham
  • Tenant in Chief in 1086: Hugh of Beauchamp
  • Lord of the Manor in 1086: Serlo of Rots (subinfeudated)
  • Taxable Value: 1 geld
  • Value to Lord of the Manor: 10 shillings in 1066; 10 shillings in 1070; 10 shillings in 1086
  • Households: 1 smallholder; 1 slave
  • Meadow: 1 plough

• 6th Manor

  • Overlord in 1066: King Edward
  • Lord of the Manor in 1066: Leofgeat the priest
  • Tenant in Chief in 1086: Canons of Bedford
  • Lord of the Manor in 1086: Canons of Bedford
  • Taxable Value: ³⁄₄ geld
  • Value to Lord of the Manor: 10 shillings in 1066; 10 shillings in 1086
  • Households: 1 villager; 1 smallholder
  • Meadow: 1 plough

• 7th Manor

  • Overlord in 1066: King Edward
  • Lord of the Manor in 1066: Wulfmer, King Edward's priest
  • Tenant in Chief in 1086: Abbey of Bury St Edmunds
  • Lord of the Manor in 1086: Ordwy of Bedford (subinfeudated)
  • Taxable Value: ¹⁄₂ geld
  • Value to Lord of the Manor: 6 shillings in 1066; 6 shillings in 1086
  • Households: 2 slaves
  • Plough Teams: ¹⁄₂ lord's plough ( ¹⁄₂ plough land)
  • Meadow: ¹⁄₂ plough

• 8th Manor

  • Lord of the Manor in 1066: Merwynn
  • Tenant in Chief in 1086: Canons of Bedford
  • Lord of the Manor in 1086: Canons of Bedford
  • Taxable Value: ¹⁄₄ geld
  • Value to Lord of the Manor: 3 shillings in 1066; 3 shillings in 1086
  • Plough Teams: ¹⁄₄ lord's plough ( ¹⁄₄ plough land)
  • Meadow: ¹⁄₄ plough

• 9th Manor

  • Lord of the Manor in 1066: Osgar of Bedford
  • Tenant in Chief in 1086: Osgar of Bedford
  • Lord of the Manor in 1086: Osgar of Bedford
  • Taxable Value: ¹⁄₄ geld
  • Value to Lord of the Manor: 2 shillings in 1066; 2 shillings in 1070; 2 shillings in 1086

• 10th Manor

  • Lord of the Manor in 1066: Wulfmer the burgess
  • Tenant in Chief in 1086: Wulfmer the burgess
  • Lord of the Manor in 1086: Wulfmer the burgess
  • Taxable Value: ¹⁄₈ geld
  • Value to Lord of the Manor: 1 shillings in 1066; 1 shillings in 1070; 1 shillings in 1086