In the midsummer following the completion of Domesday Book, William
summoned all the barons and chief landholders of the realm, with their
principal vassals or tenants, to meet him on Salisbury Plain,
Wiltshire.[1] It is said that the entire assemblage numbered sixty
thousand. There was a logical connection between that summons and the
great survey (S120). Each man's possesions and each man's
responsibility were now known. Thus Domesday Book prepared the way
for the action that was to be taken there.
[1] See map of England facing p. 436. Wiltshire is in the south of
England. Alfred had established the seat of government at Winchester
in Hampshire, but under Edward the Confessor and Harold it was
transferred to Westminster (London); the honor was again restored to
Winchester by William, who made it his principal residence. This was
perhaps the reason why he chose Salisbury Plain (the nearest open
region) for the great meeting. It was held where the modern city of
Salisbury stands.
The place chosen was historic ground. On that field William had once
reviewed his victorious troops. Toward the north of the widespread
plain rose the rugged columns of Stonehenge (S3), surrounded by the
burial mounds of prehistoric peoples. On the south rose the fortified
hill of Old Sarum, scarred by British and by Roman entrenchments.
William probably made his headquarters in the Norman castle then
standing on that hill. On the plain below were the encampments of all
the chief landholders of England.