Census 2011 What is a census? Why do we need one?

What is a census? Since 1801, every ten years the nation has set aside one day for the census - a count of all people and households. It is the most complete source of information about the population that we have.

How many more people live in England and Wales compared with ten years ago? What kind of people are they? And what services do they need in their area?

The First Ever Census…

Why was it called the “Domesday Book”? Revelation Chapter 20 Verses Then I saw a great white throne and him [God] who sat upon it; from his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, by what they had done. This passage is from the Bible. This passage tells the story of when God will judge who can enter heaven.

1086…Little Domesday

Who collected the information? Royal commissioners were sent out around England to collect and record the information from thousands of settlements the country was split up into 7 regions, or 'circuits' of the country, with 3 or 4 commissioners being assigned to each. All of the information was written in Latin Little Domesday = 475 Great Domesday = 413

Source A The King (William) holds in demesne Earley (in lordship – that is, by and for himself; he has not let it out to a sub-tenant). Almar (an Anglo-Saxon) held it in alod (freehold) from King Edward. Then (in 1066, it was assessed for tax purposes) at 5 hides, now (in 1086 it is assessed) for (the equivalent of) 4 hides. (There is) Land for use by 6 ploughs. In demesne (on the lord’s land there is land for) 1 plough and (there are) 6 villans (villagers) and 1 bordar (smallholder) with 3 ploughs. There (are) 2 slaves (owned by the King) and 1 site (or close) in Reading (presumably owned by or part of the manor) and (there are) 2 fisheries worth (rendering) 7s and 6d (per year) and 20 acres of meadow. (There is) Woodland for (feeding) 70 pigs. At the time of King Edward (1066) it was worth 100s, and afterwards (when William acquired the manor) and now (1086) it is worth 50s. 1.What is the name of this area (demesne)? 2.How many ploughs were in this area in 1066? 3.How many ploughs were there in 1086? 4.How much was this land worth on 1066? 5.How much was this land worth in 1086?

What types of questions did William ask? The questions asked can be summarised as follows: 1.What is the manor called? 2.Who held it in the time of King Edward (in 1066)? 3.Who holds it now (in 1086)? 4.How many hides are there (what is its tax assessment)? 5.How many plough(team)s on the demesne (local lord’s own land) and among the men (rest of the village)? 6.How many free men, sokemen, villans, cotta[ge]rs, slaves? 7.How much woodland, meadow, pasture, mills, fisheries? 8.How much has been added to or taken away from the manor? 9.How much was the whole worth (1066) and how much now (1086)? 10.How much had or has each freeman and each sokeman?

Why do you think William needed this information? Money Men Land Animals

Tasks Can Domesday Book be trusted? Make a list of all the reasons why Domesday Book might not give a very accurate picture of life in medieval times. Think about the details that are missing. A Domesday Book for today? Write a modern Domesday Book entry. Write your own entry for your local area or a town or village of your choice. List the questions you would need to ask. Think about the best way to collect the information. How would you present your findings? What things could people in the future find out from your entry?