DOMESDAY FINDON

Copyright Valerie Martin 2003

Findon was born in an earlier age and then adopted by the Roman settlers, re-found by the marauding Saxons; and recorded in the Domesday Book which was compiled just twenty years after William the  Conqueror landed. 

Everyone has heard of the Domesday Book — but how much does it tell us about Findon? 

The Domesday Book was not an idle document of events at the time but a serious survey for taxation purposes.  It can be summed up as a precise record showing the worth and development accrued in the conquered land.

King William commanded an exact survey of every hide of land in his kingdom and he sought to discover what land each person held.  He sent forth Commissioners into every county to enquire into the extent of each estate, the name of the over-tenants and sub-tenants, the number of its inhabitants and the estimated value of the land before and also after the conquest. 

The returns, given on oath by juries, were arranged in order and compiled into two volumes, under the appropriate title of “Domesday” or Book of Judgments. 

In 1086 when the Domesday Survey was made, Sussex (including our Findon area) had recently been divided into five new baronies, locally called rapes.   Each had at least one town and also a castle.  William de Braose of Bramber Castle, one of the Conqueror’s kinsmen and knights, held “Findune”, as one of 38 manors granted to him after the Conquest and Findon came under the Bramber Castle Rape. 

Firstly there was the Findon land granted to free tenants, and their legal ownership was the freehold of the said land in English law. 

The remainder of the Findon countryside belonged to the Lord of the Manor, was called the demesne or home farm. 

The Domesday Survey shows Findon as being a Manor possessing (rather surprisingly) saltpans, indicating that sea-water was trapped in shallow basins to evaporate.   Salt extraction being an important local industry and vital to medieval economy.   The salting of meat and fish was the only form of food preservation.

Fifty-eight Findon inhabitants and three plough teams were recorded at the medieval Findon Manor. This consisted of 52 villeins (substantial Findon peasants) and bordars (lesser Findon peasants) and six Findon slaves — all of whose names are lost forever.   There were very few actual slaves in England at the time of the Doomsday Book, and the class rapidly died out.   This all constituted a large rural Findon community.   The people could not leave the Findon Manor and their services were enforced in the old concept of serfdom.  These early Findon agricultural workers of the land were allowed to cultivate sections of the home farm fields for their own usage.

The peasants lived at the Manor, on which they had the right to a dwelling and garden, a holding of arable land, a share of the hay harvest and a right of pasture.  In return, services (usually on the Lord’s lands), and payments were owed to the Lord.  A peasant could not leave the Manor except upon purchasing his freedom, which he could not afford, and was compelled to pay fines or fees when he inherited from this father, when he got married and if his daughters married.   At harvest time or other seasons when extra work was called for, the Lord imposed a tax on his peasants.   To me this does not present a very pretty picture of life in medieval Findon.

Findon Church is mentioned in the Domesday Book — these volumes are now in the British Museum and contain the earliest records of Findon parish lands.

The above all happened some 900 years ago and all that remains to remind us of those times are the ruins of the castle at Bramber... built in 1073 by William de Braose.   

This formidable bastion in its time...remained in his family until the early 14th century when in 1324, his namesake, William VI de Braose leased the castle and the town of Bramber to King Edward II.  At this time, the castle underwent repairs but the work terminated in November 1326 upon the death of the king.    There are no further reports of renovations being carried out.

On the accession of King Edward III, the family recovered the manors and Bramber Castle.   It seems that the property was not used to a great extent over the years through a succession of Braose descendents.   

2010 - Bramber Castle.... click to enlarge my photograph

During the reign of King Richard II (1377-99) there was some concern that the French would invade and Richard was petitioned to garrison Bramber Castle but there is no record that this actually happened.  But there is an interesting record of two pirates being held at the castle in 1355.    Hardly surprising because Bramber was once a thriving port like its neighbour, Steyning, and can boast waves lapping at its wharf..... a fact that people today do not realise.  

Archaeological evidence suggests that it was no longer used as a castle after the 15th century and there was certainly a lack of any maintenance.   Unfortunately there was an increase in the pilfering of its stonework for building material and no doubt the owners of local properties are unaware that their homes are constructed with "castle flints".   By 1586 it was reported that the property was a ruin.

All that remains today of the castle that was over-lord to Findon Manor and the medieval village of Findon is a solitary gatehouse wall dominating the skyline, a tree covered motte .... and as there had always been....rather lovely views over the countryside.    

Continue if you would like to read about Findon's Medieval Silver Pennies

This is Findon Village — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created by Valerie Martin exclusively for documenting life in Findon.