The Domesday Survey recorded three manors here and various other
holdings. The largest of the manors was held before the Conquest by Cnut, a
free man commended to Algar, and consisted of 3 carucates of ploughland and 3
acres of meadow with a church with 30 acres of land. This manor was held by
Eudo the Steward in 1086. Secondly, before the Conquest Leohtwine, a free man
of Halfdan, held 30 acres and 3 acres of meadow, and Godhere, a free man of Ely
abbey held 68 acres as a manor with 4 acres of meadow, and 12 more free men of
Ely abbey held 50 acres and 4 acres of meadow, all held by Roger de Poitou in
1086, perhaps as a manor. Third, in 1086 Aelfric the Deacon held a manor of 12
acres and 2 acres of meadow from Gerald, who held it from Roger de Rames.
Gerald also held (from Roger) held 10 acres previously held by two free men,
one commended to Ely abbey and the other to Harold. Then there were two
substantial parcels, not specifically described as manors. Before the Conquest
Leofric , a free man of Earl Aelfgar, held 1½ carucates of ploughland
and 1½ acres of meadow, held in 1086 by Frodo, the abbot of
Bury’s brother. Next, Count Richard fitzGilbert held 1½ carucates
and 1½ acres of meadow here in 1086. Finally the Domesday Survey records
four smaller holdings in 1086. One free man of Ralph the Staller held 4 acres
before the Conquest, held by Count Alan in 1086; one free man commended to
Eadric held 12 acres and a half acre of meadow, held in 1086 by Robert Malet
along with a church with 15 acres; in 1086 Ely abbey held 4 acres, held before
the Conquest by Aelfric, a free man commended to a person commended to Ely
abbey; and 4 acres in Tuddenham were held in Hervey de Bourges’ demesne
of Great Bealing, and a further 6 acres previously held by Ealdgyth, a free
woman commended to Eadric of Laxfield were also held by Hervey in 1086. This
rather complex pattern of landholding at least suggests that there were two
churches here in 1086; one on Eudo the Steward’s manor and the other on
land held by Robert
Malet.
Benefice of Westerfield and Tuddenham St Martin with
Witnesham.