• 1. Bishops Waltham -lot of details -  Wikipedia           https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop%27s_Waltham

2. Bishop's Waltham Palace - English Heritage    https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/bishops-waltham-palace/history/

3. Bishops Waltham Palace, History, Travel & visiting   https://www.britainexpress.com/attractions.htm?attraction=1502

4. Palace ruins at Bishops Waltham  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop's_Waltham_Palace

5.English Heritage Bishop's Waltham Palace   https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/bishops-waltham-palace/

6. Bishops Waltham Information and Events - LBW https://www.lovebishopswaltham.com/

7. The parish of Bishop's Waltham - British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/hants/vol3/pp276-282

8. Bishop's Waltham - Towns & Villages - Visit Hampshire https://www.visit-hampshire.co.uk/explore/bishops-waltham-p195881

9. Bishop's Waltham Society https://www.bishopswalthamsociety.org.uk/

10. Visit Winchester - Bishop's Waltham: Town Guide https://www.visitwinchester.co.uk/bishops-waltham

 https://www.visitwinchester.co.uk/listing/bishops-waltham/

11. Visit Hampshire-Bishop's Waltham                    https://www.visit-hampshire.co.uk/explore/towns/bishops-waltham

12. Local Histories-A History of Bishops Waltham https://localhistories.org/a-history-of-bishops-waltham/

13. England Genealogy • FamilySearch Bishop's Waltham  https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Bishop's_Waltham,_Hampshire_Genealogy

14. The National Archives - Bishops Waltham Parish Council https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/c/F235905

15. Towns & Villages in Hampshire - Visit South East England https://www.visitsoutheastengland.com/places-to-visit/bishops-waltham-p2277581

16.  St Peter's and Blessed Mary - History (C of E) https://www.stpetersbw.org.uk/about-us/history/

17. Old Railway Station- Branch History https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishops_Waltham_branch

18. GPS Walks near Bishops Waltham

https://www.gps-routes.co.uk/routes/home.nsf/RoutesLinksWalks/bishops-waltham-walking-route

The History of the Town of Bishops Waltham and interesting aspects throughout the milleniums  is documented in numerous websites (15 at least are linked for your browse or research in  next drop down link below). 

To save time for busy,  folks included here is  a concise history of Bishops Waltham, a town located in Hampshire, UK:

Early History:

• Roman Era: Evidence suggests that Bishops Waltham might have had Roman origins, with findings indicating nearby Roman settlements or activity.
• Saxon Period: The area was settled by Saxons, and the name "Waltham" is derived from Old English, meaning "farmstead in a forest clearing."

Medieval Period:

• Bishop of Winchester: The town gets its name from its association with the Bishops of Winchester, who established a palace here in the 12th century. This palace became a significant residence for the bishops, influencing the town's development.
  • Bishop's Palace: Construction began under Henry de Blois in the 1130s, with further developments over the centuries. The palace was a center of administration and political activity.
• Market Town: Bishops Waltham was granted a market charter in the 13th century, turning it into a prosperous market town, with the market on special occasions retaining a focal point of local life.

Post-Medieval:

• Dissolution and Decline: The Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII in the 1530s led to the decline of the Bishop's Palace, which was partially dismantled, though some structures remained in use.
• Civil War: During the English Civil War, the town saw action, particularly around the remains of the Bishop's Palace, which was used by both sides at different points.

Modern Era:

• Industrial Revolution: The town did not industrialize significantly, preserving much of its rural character, though it saw some growth with the advent of better transportation links.
• 20th Century: The palace ruins were taken into state care in 1953, becoming a public attraction. The town expanded with new housing but maintained its historical charm.
• Cultural and Community Life: Today, Bishops Waltham is known for its community spirit, historical sites like the Palace ruins, and events like the annual Bishops Waltham Festival, which celebrates local culture and history.

Recent Developments:

• Conservation and Tourism: Efforts have been made to preserve and promote the town's heritage, making it a place of interest for tourists interested in history, architecture, and rural English life.

Bishops Waltham, while not as widely known as larger cities, holds a rich tapestry of history, with its connection to the Bishops of Winchester being a defining aspect of its identity.

 There is a local museum at Bishops Waltham, plus further information and historical items held by Hampshire County Council at  Hampshire Archives at Winchester.

https://www.bishopswalthammuseum.com/

https://hampshirearchivestrust.co.uk/stories/hampshire-record-office

https://www.hants.gov.uk/librariesandarchives/archives

https://www.hants.gov.uk/

Bishop's Waltham, UK, is indeed recorded in the Domesday Book. According to the records, Bishops Waltham was a settlement in the hundred of Waltham in the county of Hampshire. It had a recorded population of 115 households in 1086, which placed it among the largest 20% of settlements recorded in Domesday.

The entry for Bishops Waltham details the following:

- **Households**: Included 73 villagers, 28 smallholders, and 14 slaves.
- **Ploughland**: There were 26 ploughlands, with 9 lord's plough teams and 28.1 men's plough teams.
- **Other Resources**: The settlement had 2.5 acres of meadow, woodland providing for 10 swine, 3 mills worth 17 shillings and 5 pence, 2 churches, and 2.5 church lands.
- **Annual Value to Lord**: It was valued at 38 pounds in 1086, 10 pounds 10 shillings when acquired by the 1086 owner, and 31 pounds in 1066.
- **Tenancy**: The tenant-in-chief in 1086 was the Bishop of Winchester (St Peter & St Swithin). Lords in 1086 included Ralph the priest, Robert, and a man, with the bishop of Winchester also as the overlord in 1066.

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In the context of the Domesday Book, a "hundred" refers to an administrative division or district used in medieval England. It was a subdivision of a shire or county, typically containing about a hundred families or households, though the actual number could vary widely. Hundreds were used for local government, judicial, and military purposes:

- **Administrative:** Each hundred had its own court (the hundred court) where minor legal cases were heard, local taxes were collected, and administrative duties were managed.

- **Judicial:** The hundred court dealt with local law enforcement, settling disputes, and administering justice for offenses like theft or minor assaults.

- **Military:** They were also significant for organizing the fyrd, the Anglo-Saxon militia, where each hundred was responsible for contributing soldiers in times of war.

The term "hundred" is somewhat misleading since it didn't strictly correspond to 100 of anything specific; rather, it was a convenient administrative unit that was roughly equivalent in size across different regions. In the entry for Bishops Waltham, "hundred of Waltham" indicates that Bishops Waltham was part of this administrative division within Hampshire.

For more detailed information, you can explore online resources like the Open Domesday project.[](https://opendomesday.org/place/SU5517/bishops-waltham/)

The Domesday Book, often referred to as simply "Domesday" or "Domesday Survey," is one of the most significant historical documents from medieval England. Here's a brief overview of its history:

### Creation:
- **Ordered by:** King William I of England, also known as William the Conqueror, after the Norman Conquest of 1066.
- **Purpose:** To determine the resources and taxable value of the land in England, to consolidate Norman control, assess the wealth of the country for taxation, and to settle disputes about land tenure.
- **Compilation:** The survey was conducted in 1085 and completed in 1086. Information was gathered by royal commissioners who traveled the country, questioning local juries in each hundred.

### Structure:
- **Two Books:**
- **Little Domesday:** Covers Essex, Norfolk, and Suffolk in great detail. It's called "Little" because it's smaller in geographic scope but more detailed in content.
- **Great Domesday:** Covers the rest of England (except for the northern counties north of the River Tees, London, Winchester, and some other minor exceptions). It's less detailed but covers a broader area.

### Content:
- **Records:** It lists every manor, who held it in 1066 (pre-Conquest) and who held it in 1086 (post-Conquest), along with the resources of each estate (ploughlands, livestock, mills, etc.), the population, and the value of the land.
- **Layout:** Written in Latin, entries are organized by county, then by hundred, and then by manor or estate.

### Significance:
- **Legal and Administrative:** It provided a basis for taxation, land rights, and legal decisions for centuries. It was considered so authoritative that decisions based on it were seen as final, leading to the name "Domesday," an allusion to the Last Judgment in Christian theology where accounts are settled.
- **Historical:** The Domesday Book is invaluable for historians because it provides a snapshot of England's economic and social conditions at that time, showing land ownership, economic activities, and population distribution.

### Preservation and Access:
- **Original:** The original manuscripts are kept at The National Archives in Kew, London.
- **Copies and Digitization:** Over the centuries, copies were made, and in modern times, the text has been transcribed, indexed, and digitized, making it accessible for study worldwide.

### Legacy:
- **Influence:** It influenced subsequent surveys and censuses in England and set a precedent for national land surveys.
- **Cultural Impact:** The Domesday Book has become a symbol of governance, record-keeping, and historical continuity in England.

The Domesday Book remains a critical resource for understanding the medieval landscape of England, providing insights into the structure of society, economic conditions, and the effects of the Norman Conquest.

This section has to be updated and is still in planning preapration

This section has to be updated and is still in planning preapration

This section has to be updated and is still in planning preapration

This section has to be updated and is still in planning preapration

This section has to be updated and is still in planning preapration

This section has to be updated and is still in planning preapration

This section has to be updated and is still in planning preapration

This section has to be updated and is still in planning preapration