麻豆社

Increasing air attacks on London and concerns for the security of some of the country鈥檚 most important records and documents prompted a plan to hide thousands of them away.

Described as perhaps the 鈥榤ost famous census ever鈥� and 鈥楤ritain鈥檚 finest treasure鈥�; the Domesday Book came to Bodmin Jail in early 1918.

鈥淔rom what we understand the entire documented history of Britain up until the late 19th Century was stored here during the war. We鈥檝e got records of 3,418 bundles of documents amounting to nearly 19,600 items actually being stored here,鈥� says Chris Wilkes from Bodmin Jail.

And this is confirmed by the National Archives at Kew.

Today the Domesday Book manuscript is held at The National Archives at Kew and remains an invaluable source for modern historians and historical economists.

Location: Bodmin Jail, Cornwall PL31 2NR
Image: Bodmin Jail