The Domesday Book was the earliest known comprehensive data of what was then the country known as England in 1085.
The origins of a number of areas of Property and other Law originate or refer back to this document.
The Country was divided into Seven Areas or “Circuits†and the information was collected by a Royal Commissioner in front of a Jury of Barons and Villagers. The origins of Property Rates Taxation have their roots set in the Domesday book. Payments are more likely these days to be made with money rather than soldiers fed and armed, cows and grain and other early forms of payment.
The Domesday (“Doomsday†or day of reckoning), was a record of the Kingdom and enabled William the Conqueror to decide how he was to tax his newly acquired dominion – mainly to fund his army which was mainly used to suppress the people.
Of course, whilst the census is no longer officially used to store data to keep the common man in check, many people may think that its primary function could still be to assist the Treasury make policy with taxation.
Details of the March 2011 Census, click here.
See also: How the Census affects Housing and Planning Policy
25th February 2011