Wadard facts for kids
Wadard was an important nobleman from Normandy, a region in France. He lived a long time ago, in the 1000s. He is famous because his name is written in a very old book called the Domesday Book. He also appears in a famous picture story called the Bayeux Tapestry.
Wadard was a noble who traveled to England in 1066. He came with William the Conqueror, who was the Duke of Normandy. The Bayeux Tapestry shows Wadard during a trip to find food for the army. This suggests he might have helped with getting supplies for William's soldiers. His picture in the Tapestry makes it seem like he was a high-ranking person.
Land and Wealth
By the time the Domesday Book was made in 1086, Wadard was a "tenant" of Odo, bishop of Bayeux. This means he rented land from Bishop Odo. Wadard held many pieces of land, called "estates." These estates were about 1,260 acres in total. They were in places like Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey, and Lincolnshire.
From these lands, Wadard earned about £127 each year. This was a lot of money back then! His land included towns like Farningham and Combe in Kent. He also owned six houses in Dover. In Oxfordshire, he had land in Cassington and Cogges. He also had land in Thames Ditton in Surrey and Glentham in Lincolnshire.
A writer from the 1300s, William Thorne, wrote about Wadard. He said that the Abbot of St Augustine's Abbey gave Wadard some land in Northbourne. Wadard could use this land for his whole life. But he had to pay 30 shillings every year. He also had to give the Abbey a tenth (10%) of everything he earned from the land.
Wadard also signed his name as a witness to a land gift. This gift was to the Abbey of Saint-Pierre de Préaux in Normandy. He also rented land from St Augustine's Abbey.
Family
Wadard had sons who also held land.
- His son, Rainald, rented two estates from Bishop Odo. These were at Somerton and Fritwell. These lands were next to his father's estate at Fringford.
- Two other sons, named Martin and Simon, are mentioned in old records from the Abbey of Préaux.
