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Domesday Delving

Domesday Delving

By: Claire Stephen-Walker
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About this listen

 Domesday Delving is a journey back in time to explore the hidden histories of England's towns and villages as recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. From the lives of local peasants and the roles of medieval churches to the power struggles between lords, each episode offers an engaging and in-depth look at a different location in medieval England. Whether you have a personal connection to a place or are simply curious about the past, Domesday Delving brings history to life with vivid storytelling and expert insights.

Episodes are uploaded weekly on Tuesdays.Claire Stephen-Walker Social Sciences World
Episodes
  • DD - Episode 46 - Taunton

    DD - Episode 46 - Taunton
    Jul 8 2025
    In this episode of Domesday Delving, we explore the powerful and complex town of Taunton, Somerset—a Domesday entry bursting with legal privileges, economic reach, and a population that far exceeded what the record shows. From borough-rights and crime fines to buried lords and bishop-run courts, Taunton shows us what it meant to wield local power in medieval England—and what that still means for us today.

    Plus: a deep dive into swineherds, tax biases, and why local control isn't always local accountability.

    This episode brought to you by: Hermelinda Emelisse Theedom and Norman.

    Patreon: patreon.com/DomesdayDelving
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    26 mins
  • DD - Episode 45 - Swyre

    DD - Episode 45 - Swyre
    Jul 1 2025
    In this week’s episode of Domesday Delving, we travel to Swyre in Dorset — a small coastal holding with a rare gem in its Domesday entry: a clear acknowledgement of King Harold. From this one line, we dive into the life, reign, and legacy of England’s last crowned Anglo-Saxon king.

    Was Harold Godwinson truly the usurper the Normans painted him to be — or a legitimate king cut down by an invading opportunist? Why does so much of what we “know” about 1066 come from those who had the most to gain from rewriting the story? We explore how propaganda shaped the narrative of conquest — and how it still works today. From medieval tapestries to modern news channels, we ask: who gets to tell the story, and what happens when we only hear one side?
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    31 mins
  • DD - Episode 44 - Bedwyn

    DD - Episode 44 - Bedwyn
    Jun 24 2025
    This week on Domesday Delving, we journey to Bedwyn in Wiltshire, a royal estate so significant it was never taxed in hides. We explore the powerful symbolism of money, from medieval plough-teams and burgesses to today's digital currencies, and ask what it means when wealth loses its weight.

    Along the way, we look at coliberts, crown land, and why even the absence of a mint can tell us a great deal about value, power, and who gets remembered in history
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    16 mins
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Thank You for making this Podcast! The book itself is fascinating but is just a government document. The podcast brings is it to life in an engaging and charming way. I'll be following along.

Brilliant!

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