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History of Rogerthorpe Manor
Researched by Charles L Birdsall,1994-1999,Jim Bolter 1995,
John Goodchild 1995,Roy Wooler, 1994,Gordon Tune 1997
Reproduced by kind permission of Mr Richard Metcalfe
For the full version of this text and other items concerning this historic house please click on :
www.jacobeanpub.co.uk/ html/jacobean.htm
www.charlesbirdsall.co.uk/html/rogerthorpe.asp
Of Saxons and Normans
In 1086 King Harold had to defend his kingdom on two fronts. He was attacked by the Norwegians in the North and the Normans in the South.
Harold and his Saxon army gained a decisive victory over the Norwegians at the Battle of Stamford Bridge just outside York. There was a local tale that after this battle a chase took place ending up with a Norwegian fighting a Saxon on Standing Flat Bridge which still carries the Doncaster-Pontefract road over the River Went about 200 metres on the Pontefract side of the cross roads at Thorpe Audlin. The story is very similar to that of the actual battle at Stamford Bridge: it is so similar in fact that at one time in the 19th Century it was suggested that the battle actually took place at Thorpe Audlin.
Harold lost his life and his crown to William the Conqueror at Hastings in 1066 and England was then subject to Norman laws and institutions.
King William owned all the land and parcelled it out amongst his followers. They in turn allocated some of their lands to their followers and so on down the line. A grant of land was given in return for services and/or goods. At a later period money replaced some of these goods and services. Frequently land was given to churches and monasteries as a form of insurance for the donor's after-life. It was sometimes stipulated that masses were to be said for the departed souls of the donor and his family.
By 1085 William was concerned as to who owned what and how much it was all worth. At the Christmas court at Gloucester it was decided to carry out a great survey. This survey resulted in the compilation of the Domesday Book.