Facts About Moulton

Moulton In The Doomesday Book

After the Norman conquest village life changed little. Moulton whose overlord before the conquest was Archbishop Stigand, the Saxon, held the manor with 7 caracutes of land  It was then passed without much change to Archbishop Lanfranc, who assigned the manor to provide the Monks with food. In fact the only changes noted in the Doomesday Book in the 20 years from 1066 to 1086 are that the value of the Manor dropped from £15.00 to £12.00 and the population changed from:

Population And Housing

The Manor

 Of Moulton In 1087

In 1087 the Manor comprised of: Then as now there are 3 ploughs on the demense and 6 ploughs belonging to the men. And 8 acres of meadow, wood for 20 swine, 2 rounceys, 12 beasts, 40 hogs, 270 sheep and 4 hives of bees. The estate, then worth 15 Li (pounds), now 12 Li. 1 league long and 7 furlongs broad, the tax was 13 1/2d. Stigand has soc and sac of all customs

Moulton as a Market Town.

In medieval times villages were called 'Towns'. Moulton was granted a licence for a market by Edward I, in 1298. The site of the market would have been where Maltings Close and Lark Hill are now built. This area was called Market field on the enclosures act map of 1839. The market would have been convenient for the pack horse route that ran through the village. The market was known to be in use in 1227/8.

Moulton from 1620 To 1794

Rev Edward Wilson, Rector of Moulton from 1784 to 1823, contributes this account of the village at the time. " This parish contains about 1600 acres of arable land, chiefly in open fields and lying in small pieces. Course 2 crops and a fallow. About 1000 acres of heath in 8, several sheep walks. Much of this convertable into good arable. A small quantity of meadow, pasture and common. Rental about 750 li (pounds) Poor rates about 3/3 sack rent. Houses 37, inhabitants about 200, wages 14d per day, with beer. Employment of woman and children, spinning from Norwich ".

Occupations 1797 to 1912

1797 - 63 in agriculture, 13 in retail trade, 1 professional, 7 in labouring, 17 in domestic service, 12 others. 1844 - 2 shoemakers, 2 shopkeepers, 1 tailor, blacksmiths, carpenter / victualler, maltater, 6 farmers. 1912 - 2 horse trainers, baker, 2 stud grooms, 2 butchers grocers, butcher, agent to Rt Hon Sir Ernest Cassel, carrier / thatcher, blacksmiths, publician.

Poor Relief

Births And Deaths 1620 To 1794

In the 20 years ending with: 1620, 132 births, 128 burials 1700, 113 births, 95 burials 1754, 148 births,155 burials 1794, 147 births106 burials

©2000 John Gunson, Village Recorder