Pipe Rolls

Pipe Rolls
Richard I of England · Public domain · source
Name	Pipe Rolls
Created	12th century
Location	The National Archives (United Kingdom)

Pipe Rolls are a series of records created by the Exchequer of England during the Middle Ages, providing valuable information about the financial and administrative activities of the Kingdom of England. The Pipe Rolls are closely related to the Domesday Book, a survey of England conducted by William the Conqueror in 1086, and offer insights into the Feudal system and the Manorialism of the time, as practiced by Norman lords such as William Marshal and Richard de Clare. The Pipe Rolls also contain information about the English monarchy, including Henry I of England, Henry II of England, and Richard I of England, as well as the Nobility of the United Kingdom, including Duke of Norfolk and Earl of Surrey.

Introduction to Pipe Rolls

The Pipe Rolls are a collection of annual records that document the financial transactions of the Exchequer of England, including payments, taxes, and other revenues, as well as the administration of Royal forests and Crown lands, which were managed by officials such as the Lord High Treasurer and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The records were created during the 12th century and continued until the 19th century, providing a unique window into the financial and administrative history of England, including the Reign of Henry VIII and the English Reformation. The Pipe Rolls are an essential source for historians studying the Medieval period, including Medieval England, Medieval France, and Medieval Scotland, and have been used by scholars such as Edward Gibbon and Thomas Babington Macaulay to understand the development of Feudalism and the Absolute monarchy.

History of Pipe Rolls

The Pipe Rolls have a long and complex history, dating back to the 12th century when they were first created by the Exchequer of England, during the reign of Henry I of England and the Anarchy in England. The records were initially used to document the financial transactions of the Crown, including payments to nobles such as Duke of Lancaster and Earl of Warwick, and revenues from Royal estates and Crown lands, which were managed by officials such as the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and the Governor of the Bank of England. Over time, the Pipe Rolls evolved to include a wide range of information, including details about the Administration of justice and the English law, as well as the activities of Parliament and the Council of the Realm, which included members such as Thomas More and John Locke. The Pipe Rolls are closely related to other historical records, such as the Curia Regis and the Year Books, which were used by Common law courts such as the Court of Common Pleas and the Court of King's Bench.

Structure and Content

The Pipe Rolls are structured as a series of annual records, each documenting the financial transactions of the Exchequer of England for a particular year, during the reign of monarchs such as Edward I of England and Edward III of England. The records are typically organized by county and include information about the Sheriff and other local officials, such as the Lord Mayor of London and the Bishop of London, as well as details about the manors and Royal estates in each county, which were managed by officials such as the Steward of the Household and the Master of the Horse. The Pipe Rolls also contain information about the nobility and the Gentry, including Duke of Buckingham and Earl of Oxford, as well as the Clergy of the Church of England, including Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop of York. The records are written in Latin and include a range of abbreviations and symbols, which have been studied by scholars such as David Knowles and Christopher Brooke.

Purpose and Significance

The Pipe Rolls were created to serve a number of purposes, including the documentation of financial transactions and the administration of Crown lands and Royal estates, which were managed by officials such as the Lord High Admiral and the Master-General of the Ordnance. The records were also used to track the payment of taxes and other revenues, such as the Danegeld and the Scutage, which were paid by nobles such as Duke of Norfolk and Earl of Surrey. The Pipe Rolls are significant not only for their financial information but also for the insights they provide into the social and administrative history of England, including the Feudal system and the Manorialism of the time, as practiced by Norman lords such as William Marshal and Richard de Clare. The records have been used by historians such as Geoffrey Elton and Lawrence Stone to study the development of Parliament and the English monarchy, including the Reign of Henry VIII and the English Reformation.

Preservation and Accessibility

The Pipe Rolls are preserved in The National Archives (United Kingdom), where they are available for consultation by historians and researchers, including scholars such as Eric Hobsbawm and E.J. Hobsbawm. The records have been digitized and are available online, making them more accessible to a wider range of users, including students of University of Oxford and University of Cambridge. The Pipe Rolls have been the subject of numerous studies and publications, including works by scholars such as F.W. Maitland and J.H. Round, and continue to be an important source for historians studying the Medieval period, including Medieval England, Medieval France, and Medieval Scotland. The records are also closely related to other historical collections, such as the Public Record Office and the British Library, which include works such as the Domesday Book and the Magna Carta. Category:Medieval England