Bovey Tracey in the Devonshire Doomsday Book (1086)

The Devonshire Association. (1884-1892). The Devonshire Domesday and Geld Inquest
Plymouth: W. Brendon and Son. (2 vols)

Transcribed by Michael Steer

Exeter Domesday or Liber Exonienis contains information for the county circuit of southwest England, primarily for the counties of Cornwall, Devon (some holdings missing), Dorset (some holdings missing) and Somerset. One holding in Wiltshire is also included in the Exeter Domesday. The manuscript is in poor condition, with many pages missing, and dates from about 1086. The entries are organised feudally, more feudally indeed than Domesday Book itself since the counties are subordinated to the Honours of tenants-in-chief. The two entries for Bovey Tracey (Boui or Bovi), indicate that several of the "booklands" recorded almost one thousand years ago have retained their names to the present day, for example; Adoneboui was probably Little Bovey, Wermehel was probably Warmhill Farm near Hennock, Scabatora was present day Shaptor, Ailauesfort was Elsford, Olueleia was Wooleigh on the Moreton Road, Hauocmora was Hawkmore, Harleia is now Harley and Polebroch was present day Pullabrooke Farm.

1 Reference to Bovey in the Exeter Domesday, Vol. 1, p. 130.

Boui

The bishop has a manor called Boui, which Eddric held on the day on which King Edward was alive and dead, and it rendered geld for two hides. These can be ploughed by ten ploughs. There the bishop has in demesne half a hide and three ploughs; and the villains have one hide and a half, and ten ploughs. There the bishop has sixteen villains, and eight bordars and eight serfs, and one pack horse and thirty head of cattle, and seven swine and eighty five sheep, and five goats and one mill which renders five shillings, and sixty acres of wood, and five acres of meadow, and fifty acres of pasture, and it renders yearly ten pounds, less two shillings and six pence.
To this manor has been added the land of fifteen thegns. One of these booklands is called Adoneboui, and there abode four thegns; another is called Wermehel, and there abode one thegn; another Scabatora, and there two thegns abode; another Brungarstona, and two thegns abode there; another Ailauesfort, and another Olueleia, and these two were held by one thegn; another is called Hauocmora, and there one thegn abode; another Harleia, and there one thegn abode; and another Polebroc, and one thegn abode there. These fifteen together have two hides and half a virgate, and they held their land on partage in the time of king Edward. These can be ploughed by eight ploughs; and seven ploughs are there. These thegns render yearly to Boui four pounds and two shillings and six pence tax, besides the ten pounds above mentioned.

2 Reference to Bovey Tracey in the Devonshire Domesday: Exchequer, Vol. 1, p. 131.

Bovi

The bishop himself holds Bovi. Edric held it in the time of king Edward, and it paid geld for two hides. There is land for ten ploughs. In demesne are three ploughs, and eight serfs and sixteen villains, and eight bordars with ten ploughs. There is a mill rendering ten shillings, and there are five acres of meadow, and fifty acres of pasture, and sixty acres of wood. It renders ten pounds less thirty pence.
To this manor has been added the land of fifteen thegns in Adoneboui, Wermehel, Scabatore, Brungarstone, Eilauesford, Vluelei, Hauocmore, Harlei and Polebroch. In these lands, fifteen thegns have two hides, and half a virgate of land. There is land for eight ploughs and seven ploughs are there. These (thegns) render to Boui four pounds and thirty pence of tax, besides the ten pounds above mentioned.