Legal Definitions - manorial extent

A manorial extent was a detailed historical survey or inventory of a medieval manor. Conducted by a jury of local tenants, its purpose was to create a comprehensive record of the manor's resources, its inhabitants, and the obligations associated with the land. These surveys meticulously documented who lived on the manor, how much land they held, the type of legal arrangement under which they held it (their tenure), and the specific services or rents they owed to the lord of the manor. Essentially, it was a snapshot of the manor's economic and social structure at a particular point in time.

Here are some examples illustrating the application of a manorial extent:

• Estate Management for a New Lord: Imagine a powerful noble in 14th-century England who has just inherited a vast new estate, including several manors, from a distant relative. To understand the full value of his new holdings, the income they generate, and the labor available, he commissions a manorial extent for each manor.

  How this illustrates the term: This scenario directly reflects the purpose of a manorial extent: to provide the lord with a detailed inventory of his tenants, their land, and the services they owe, enabling him to effectively manage his newly acquired property and understand its economic potential.

• Resolving Land Disputes: Consider a situation in the 13th century where a tenant farmer on a manor believes his neighbor is encroaching on his land, and there's also a disagreement about whether he owes two days of plowing service or three to the lord each year. To resolve these disputes, the manorial court might refer to a previously conducted manorial extent.

  How this illustrates the term: The extent would contain precise details about the boundaries of each tenant's holding and the exact services (like plowing) owed by specific tenants, serving as an authoritative record to settle disagreements over land rights and obligations.

• Assessing Regional Wealth for Royal Purposes: During a period of national crisis, a king in the 12th century might order a comprehensive assessment of the wealth and resources across his kingdom to fund a military campaign or rebuild after a famine. While not a direct tax, these assessments often relied on information gathered from local manorial extents.

  How this illustrates the term: Although the king wouldn't directly commission *a* manorial extent for taxation, the data collected in existing extents (like the number of tenants, the size of their productive land, and the value of their services) would be invaluable for royal officials to estimate the economic capacity of different regions and calculate potential levies or contributions, demonstrating the broader utility of such detailed surveys.