Domesday Book debuts online

National Archives makes records accessible to public over the interent

A National Archives digitisation project has gone live today and given the public online access to the Domesday Book.

The oldest public record held by the National Archives in Kew, west London, is accessible at Domesday Online.

Although it was voted the nation’s finest treasure in 2005, less than one per cent of the population have seen the original in the museum at the National Archives.

Now anyone with an internet connection can search the Book by name of town, city or village and obtain a translation from the original Latin.

Information is also provided about the history of the 920-year old document, which was commissioned in 1805 by William 1 who conquered England after the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

For £3.50, users can buy a copy of the original page featuring the place name and a translation of the entry into modern English.

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