This Day in History: 1086-08-01

It is believed that on 1st August 1086, Ilbert de Lacy, Lord of Pontefract, and possibly William de Warenne of Sandal, were at Old Sarum Castle, Wiltshire, on the orders of William the Conqueror who had instructed ‘all the landholding men of any account throughout England’ to swear an oath of allegiance to him as king. The site is also where returns for the Domesday survey were collated.