The Extent of Change to Anglo-Saxon Society

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Norman Towns

The Normans made a number of important changes to towns, which reshaped the English landscape.

After the Battle of Hastings

After winning the Battle of Hastings, William led his army towards London, pillaging (stealing from) villages and farms as he went.
Because of the way he intimidated the towns, many simply surrendered straight away.

Towns and castles

Castles were located at important strategic points. Locating a castle at a river crossing allowed the crown to keep watch over the local population.
Castles had a psychological impact. Seeing a castle looming over your town made it clear who was in charge.
Castles were different from the Anglo Saxon burhs. Burhs protected the whole community, whereas castles only housed troops.
- Castles could be built quickly to allow the Normans to establish rapid control.

More towns

Under the Normans, the number of towns increased.
Existing towns grew in size.
Trade with Europe increased as the Normans had connections to Norman France.
The Domesday Book showed 18 towns with more than 2,000 people.

Trade

The main trading industries were:
- Livestock.
- Fish.
- Salt.
- Wool.
People came to towns to set up small businesses.

Features of Norman Towns

The new Norman towns had a number of features that were different from the Anglo-Saxon towns which preceded them.

Key features

Each town had a mix of houses and business properties.
Churches and religious houses (abbeys and monasteries) could also be found in towns.
Houses were bunched together and streets were extremely narrow.
Traders ran their businesses from buildings on the high street.

Role of citizens

If a villein (peasant) escaped to a town and lived there over a year, he became a free-man.
Citizens of towns were called burgesses.
- They were responsible for acting as watch-men on the outskirts of the city.
- They helped the militia when needed.
- Citizens also paid taxes.

Charters

If a city reached a certain size, it could ask the lord or king for a charter for independence.
- This meant that the city governed itself.
- A council and mayor oversaw independent towns.
Charter towns raised taxes independently but some still had to be paid to the king and the local lord.

Villages

Under both the Anglo-Saxons and the Normans, most people lived a rural life.

Anglo-Saxon villages

In 1060, 90% of the population lived in villages.
Villages were poorly protected.
When the Vikings attacked, people sheltered in the burh (fortified town).

Norman villages

At the time of the Domesday Book, there were 13,500 villages and towns.
Villages were also known as manors.
There was enormous regional variation.
- Many villages in the north had been badly affected by the Harrying of the North.

Hoddesdon

Hoddesdon is a village in Hertfordshire.
- It was recorded in the Domesday Book.
1086: William I, Count Eustace of Boulogne and Robert Gernon are listed as the owners in the Domesday Book.
Hoddesdon had 67 houses.
- This made it a larger village than most in the book.

Hoddesdon

91 villagers lived in Hoddesdon.
- Almost all were villeins (peasants).
There were also 22 slaves.
The lord was wealthy.
- His land had risen in value from £50 in 1066 to £60 in 1086.

1Anglo-Saxon England & The Norman Conquest, 1060-66

1.1Anglo-Saxon Society

1.1.1The Monarchy & Government

1.1.2Edward the Confessor (1003-1066)

1.1.3The Legal System

1.1.4Local Government

1.1.5The Economy & Social Structure

1.1.6Towns

1.1.7The Church

1.1.8End of Topic Test - Anglo-Saxon England

1.1.9Grade 9 - Anglo-Saxon Society

1.2Edward the Confessor & The Succession Crisis

1.2.1The House of Godwin

1.2.2Harold Godwinson's Succession

1.2.3The Rebellion Against Tostig

1.2.4Edward the Confessor's Death

1.2.5End of Topic Test - Edward the Confessor

1.3The Rival Claimants for the Throne

1.3.1William of Normandy, Harald Hardrada & Edgar

1.3.2The Witan & the Reign of Harold Godwinson

1.3.3The Battles of Gate Fulford & Stamford Bridge

1.3.4Grade 9 - Anglo-Saxon & Norman England

1.4The Norman Invasion

1.4.1The Battle of Hastings

1.4.2Reasons for William's Victory

1.4.3End of Topic Test - Rival Claimants for the Throne

2William I in Power: Securing the Kingdom, 1066-87

2.1Establishing Control

2.1.1The Submission of the Earls

2.1.2Getting Control of England

2.1.3Reasons for Building Castles

2.2Causes & Outcomes of Anglo-Saxon Resistance

2.2.1The Revolts against William

2.2.2End of Topic Test - William I in Power

2.3The Legacy of Resistance to 1087

2.3.1Harrying of the North, 1069-70

2.3.2Changes in Land Ownership 1066-1087

2.3.3William I Maintains Royal Power

2.4Revolt of the Earls, 1075

2.4.1The Revolt - 1075

2.4.2End of Topic Test - Legacy of Resistance

2.4.3Grade 9 - Legacy of Resistance

3Norman England, 1066-88

3.1The Feudal System & the Church

3.1.1The Norman Feudal Hierarchy

3.1.2The Nature of Feudalism & Forfeiture

3.1.3The Role of the Church in England

3.1.4The Extent of Change to Anglo-Saxon Society

3.1.5End of Topic Test - The Feudal System

3.2Norman Government

3.2.1Norman Government - Regents

3.2.2The Sheriff & the Forest

3.2.3The Domesday Book

3.3The Norman Aristocracy

3.3.1Aristocratic Culture & Language

3.3.2Bishop Odo

3.4William I & His Sons

3.4.1William I

3.4.2William's Death & the Succession

3.4.3End of Topic Test - Norman Government

3.4.4Grade 9 - Norman Government

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