Ealdgifu 2
Ealdgifu ‘of Horsington’ (Som.), fl. 1066
Female
DWP
4 of 5
Summary
Ealdgifu 2 held a large manor in south-east Somerset TRE assessed at 10¾ hides and over which she had the power of alienation; the TRE value is unknown but the value in 1086 was probably £8 11s.Distribution map of property and lordships associated with this name in DB
List of property and lordships associated with this name in DB
Holder 1066
| Shire | Phil. ref. | Vill | DB Spelling | Holder 1066 | Lord 1066 | Tenant-in-Chief 1086 | 1086 Subtenant | Fiscal Value | 1066 Value | 1086 Value | Conf. | Show on Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Somerset | 28,1 | Horsington | Eldeua | Ealdgifu 'of Horsington' | - | - | - | 10.75 | 9.77 | 0.00 | B | Map |
| Totals | ||||||||||||
Profile
Ealdgifu 2’s manor was at Horsington, lying across the Blackmoor Vale in south-east Somerset. Although her name was extremely rare and her manor a substantial one there is no reason to identify her with the other women of that name certainly recorded in DB, who were associated with small estates more than 50 miles away; an exception might be if the existence of Ealdgifu 5 was confirmed as the holder of a very large estate roughly 90 miles away in Worcestershire.DB states that Ealdgifu 2 and Sæweard held 11 hides at Horsington as two manors TRE, but the Exon entry (386a1) makes it clear that Ealdgifu held by far the lion’s share and that Sæweard was holding only 1 virgate. DB also notes that each ‘could go where they wished’, indicating that they had the power of alienation over their land and were not dependent tenants.
The Exon entry records that Ealdgifu and Sæweard held ‘in parage’, implying land whose ownership was shared between kin. This could indicate that Ealdgifu and Sæweard were related, although the wording of Exon is ambiguous and may refer separately to the two manors.