Kent Hundred Rolls
Encyclopedia
The Kent Hundred Rolls are the documentary result of a 13th century Crown inquiry or census
into the rights of the English
monarchy
over land and property in the Hundreds (regional sub-divisions) of the county of Kent
. The Rolls are preserved in the English National Archives as part of the national Hundred Rolls
.
returned to England from the Ninth Crusade
. During this time the country had suffered civil war
during the Second Barons' War
and
local government malpractice and usurpation
of Royal
rights and privileges.
As a result, an inquiry was to be made into the status of the king’s rights which, in some cases, had been appropriated "by lay and ecclesiastical
lords
" (who had used them to strengthen their power over feudal tenants), and also "into the excessive demands of sheriff
s, escheators
and coroner
s, and also of bailiff
s and other officials, whether royal or seigniorial."
Henry III
had ordered an inquiry into franchises
in 1255, and Edward I continuing the move to assert Crown authority at local level, considered that all judicial rights belonged to the Crown, and any private liberty or franchise had to be backed up by royal warrant
.
Juries for each hundred were ordered to appear before the commissioners on set dates (the names of the jurors are recorded on the rolls) answering a series of fifty questions and providing them with an opportunity to complain or otherwise highlight to the commissioners examples of misfeasance in franchises, taxes
and misuse of Royal warrants among other things. However jurors were, on occasions, unable to answer every aspect of the commissioners' inquiry.
The Kent Hundred Rolls list a number of locations in the county, many of which correspond directly to villages and towns which still exist today. At the same time, there are a number of place names without an identifiable current equivalent and which may refer to abandoned or renamed settlements.
The Rolls are, for the most part, complete however certain areas are not represented or are omitted from the record such as the Cinque Ports
, the Isle of Sheppey
and Ospringe
.
. Recent work by the Kent Archaeological Society
has produced the complete rolls for Kent, in its original Latin and an English translation.
The Kent Hundred Rolls form part of the Hundred Rolls collection held by the National Archives at Kew
.
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
into the rights of the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
monarchy
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
over land and property in the Hundreds (regional sub-divisions) of the county of Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. The Rolls are preserved in the English National Archives as part of the national Hundred Rolls
Hundred Rolls
The Hundred Rolls are a census of England and parts of what is now Wales taken in the late thirteenth century. Often considered an attempt to produce a second Domesday Book, they are named for the hundreds by which most returns were recorded....
.
Background
In 1274, Edward IEdward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
returned to England from the Ninth Crusade
Ninth Crusade
The Ninth Crusade, which is sometimes grouped with the Eighth Crusade, is commonly considered to be the last major medieval Crusade to the Holy Land. It took place in 1271–1272....
. During this time the country had suffered civil war
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
during the Second Barons' War
Second Barons' War
The Second Barons' War was a civil war in England between the forces of a number of barons led by Simon de Montfort, against the Royalist forces led by Prince Edward , in the name of Henry III.-Causes:...
and
local government malpractice and usurpation
Usurper
Usurper is a derogatory term used to describe either an illegitimate or controversial claimant to the power; often, but not always in a monarchy, or a person who succeeds in establishing himself as a monarch without inheriting the throne, or any other person exercising authority unconstitutionally...
of Royal
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
rights and privileges.
As a result, an inquiry was to be made into the status of the king’s rights which, in some cases, had been appropriated "by lay and ecclesiastical
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
lords
Lord
Lord is a title with various meanings. It can denote a prince or a feudal superior . The title today is mostly used in connection with the peerage of the United Kingdom or its predecessor countries, although some users of the title do not themselves hold peerages, and use it 'by courtesy'...
" (who had used them to strengthen their power over feudal tenants), and also "into the excessive demands of sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
s, escheators
Escheat
Escheat is a common law doctrine which transfers the property of a person who dies without heirs to the crown or state. It serves to ensure that property is not left in limbo without recognised ownership...
and coroner
Coroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...
s, and also of bailiff
Bailiff
A bailiff is a governor or custodian ; a legal officer to whom some degree of authority, care or jurisdiction is committed...
s and other officials, whether royal or seigniorial."
Henry III
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
had ordered an inquiry into franchises
Exclusive right
In Anglo-Saxon law, an exclusive right is a de facto, non-tangible prerogative existing in law to perform an action or acquire a benefit and to permit or deny others the right to perform the same action or to acquire the same benefit. A "prerogative" is in effect an exclusive right...
in 1255, and Edward I continuing the move to assert Crown authority at local level, considered that all judicial rights belonged to the Crown, and any private liberty or franchise had to be backed up by royal warrant
Warrant (law)
Most often, the term warrant refers to a specific type of authorization; a writ issued by a competent officer, usually a judge or magistrate, which permits an otherwise illegal act that would violate individual rights and affords the person executing the writ protection from damages if the act is...
.
The Hundred Roll in Kent
Two commissioners were appointed in October 1274, for each group of counties, undertaking their survey from November 1274 to March 1275.Juries for each hundred were ordered to appear before the commissioners on set dates (the names of the jurors are recorded on the rolls) answering a series of fifty questions and providing them with an opportunity to complain or otherwise highlight to the commissioners examples of misfeasance in franchises, taxes
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
and misuse of Royal warrants among other things. However jurors were, on occasions, unable to answer every aspect of the commissioners' inquiry.
The Kent Hundred Rolls list a number of locations in the county, many of which correspond directly to villages and towns which still exist today. At the same time, there are a number of place names without an identifiable current equivalent and which may refer to abandoned or renamed settlements.
The Rolls are, for the most part, complete however certain areas are not represented or are omitted from the record such as the Cinque Ports
Cinque Ports
The Confederation of Cinque Ports is a historic series of coastal towns in Kent and Sussex. It was originally formed for military and trade purposes, but is now entirely ceremonial. It lies at the eastern end of the English Channel, where the crossing to the continent is narrowest...
, the Isle of Sheppey
Isle of Sheppey
The Isle of Sheppey is an island off the northern coast of Kent, England in the Thames Estuary, some to the east of London. It has an area of . The island forms part of the local government district of Swale...
and Ospringe
Ospringe
Ospringe is a village and civil parish in the English county of Kent. It has a population of 715. Located south of Faversham, Ospringe forms part of the Borough of Swale...
.
Format
The Hundred Rolls were printed by a Record Commission in the early 19th century (1818) in abbreviated LatinLatin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
. Recent work by the Kent Archaeological Society
Kent Archaeological Society
The Kent Archaeological Society was founded in 1857 to promote the study and publication of archaeology and history, especially that pertaining to the ancient county of Kent in England...
has produced the complete rolls for Kent, in its original Latin and an English translation.
The Kent Hundred Rolls form part of the Hundred Rolls collection held by the National Archives at Kew
Kew
Kew is a place in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in South West London. Kew is best known for being the location of the Royal Botanic Gardens, now a World Heritage Site, which includes Kew Palace...
.
External links
- KentArchaeology.org – website of the Kent Archaeological Society organisation
- KentArchaeology.ac – online resources and publications of the Kent Archaeological Society
- National Archive on the Hundred Rolls