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Domesday Book and before
Charter granting Winslow to St Alban's Abbey in 792 (known only from 13th-century and later copies)
Latin text in: Baines, A.H.J., "The Winslow charter of 792 and the boundaries of Granborough", Records of Bucks 22 (1980), 1-18
God and our lord Jesus Christ reign in perpetuity. Although everywhere in the whole world the merits of the blessed martyrs who spilled their blood for Christ should be celebrated with the exaltation of divine praise, and their glorious examples should be followed with God’s help, for us in particular however the memory of the most blessed Alban, who in this island of Britain shone gloriously in his martyrdom, is to be observed, always with pious intention and careful concern.
Hence I Offa, by the grace of God king of the Mercians, with my son Ecgfrith, for love of almighty God and by the intercession of this saint, shall grant with perpetual right land of 30 hides in the places whose names are listed below, to my lord Jesus Christ for the church of St Alban where he first as a youth was made a victim in suffering. And I render this donation more delightful because heavenly protection has deigned to reveal in our times such noble treasure which was long shut away and hidden by the natives of this land. Therefore these are the names of the above-mentioned lands. Æt Uuineshauue of 12 hides with its boundaries. Æt Scelfdune or Baldinigcotum of three hides, of which three hides the boundaries are these: Suanaburna, Heortmere, Stretuuealeb’roc [or “Stret, Wealeb’roc”]. Also indeed of 10 hides where it is called Scuccanhlau or Fenntuun with the wood which is named Horwudu, with its boundaries. Æt Lygetune of 5 hides, which land Abbot Alhmundus, evading military service, owes to me by way of reconciliation.
There is also a 10th-century document written in Anglo-Saxon, which gives the boundaries of the manor, possibly as a result of its being re-granted to St Albans. See:
- Bull, E.J. & Hunt, J., "Rewalking the tenth-century perambulation of Winslow manor", Records of Bucks 38 (1996 [1998]), 90-108.
- Bailey, K.A., "The boundaries of Winslow – some comments", Records of Bucks 39 (1997 [1999]), 63-6.
- Crick, J. Charters of St Albans (Anglo-Saxon Charters) (OUP/British Academy, 2007), nos.2-3.
Entries from Domesday Book for Buckinghamshire (1086)
[Mursley Hundred] The Abbot holds Winslow himself. It answers for 15 hides. Land for 19 ploughs; in lordship [dominio] 5 hides; 3 ploughs there; a fourth possible. 17 villagers [villani] with 5 smallholders [bordarii] have 15 ploughs. 3 slaves [servi]. Meadow for 19 ploughs. From the woodland, 10s a year. The total value is and always was £11 13s 4d. This manor lay and lies in the lordship of St Albans Church.
[Waddesdon Hundred] The Abbot of St Albans holds Granborough. It answers for 5 hides. Land for 9 ploughs; in lordship 2 hides; 2 ploughs there. 7 villagers with 4 smallholders have 7 ploughs. 1 slave; meadow for 2 ploughs. In total, value 100s; when acquired, £4; before 1066, 100s. This manor lay and lies in the lordship of St Albans Church.
The inhabitants listed are only adult males, and there is much debate about what multiplier to use in order to arrive at a population figure. Little Horwood is not listed separately and was presumably included with Winslow.