DEPARTING ARMY GIFTS DOMESDAY BOOK FACSIMILE TO SALISBURY CATHEDRAL

Salisbury Cathedral’s library is now the proud owner of the Number One facsimile copy of the County of Wiltshire section of the famous Domesday Book of 1086, thanks to the generosity of HQ Land Forces Officers’ Mess.

Salisbury Garrison Commander Colonel Fiona Grundy, also President of the Mess Committee, visited the Cathedral library to formally hand it over. “The Wilton Mess will close following the move of the Headquarters to Andover. The members elected to commemorate the long association of the Wilton site with the City of Salisbury by presenting this special facsimile copy of the County of Wiltshire, produced to commemorate the 900th anniversary of the original Domesday Book, to the Cathedral Library.”

Suzanne Eward, the cathedral librarian, said “This beautiful facsimile copy was purchased by the officers of the then HQ, United Kingdom Land Forces, in 1989. It was loaned that same year to our library where it has been available for use by scholars, academics and other researchers. The box set contains three volumes – the facsimile of the original Latin text, the translation into English, and a volume of essays on Domesday England. There are also maps of Wiltshire in 1086-87.”

The Domesday book has particular significance in Salisbury as part of it was originally written at Old Sarum, and it is there that it was presented to William the Conqueror and landowners swore their fealty to the king.

Mark Elcomb, Chapter Clerk, said “We are indeed grateful to Colonel Grundy and the Wilton Officers’ Mess for gifting us these exquisite volumes and maps which provide such a detailed insight into the economy and society of 11th century Norman England. We hope to retain our strong links with the Army through the new headquarters in nearby Andover as well as with the brigades and units based locally.”