Legal Definitions - manorial extent

Definition: A manorial extent is a survey of a manor conducted by a jury of tenants. The survey provides information on the number and names of tenants, the size of their holdings, the type of tenure, and the kind and amount of services provided by the tenants.

Example: In medieval England, a lord would conduct a manorial extent to determine the resources and services available on his manor. The survey would include information on the number of peasants living on the manor, the size of their plots of land, and the type of crops they grew. The lord would use this information to determine how much rent and labor he could expect from his tenants.

Explanation: The example illustrates how a manorial extent was used to gather information about a manor. The survey provided valuable information to the lord, allowing him to make decisions about how to manage his estate. The information gathered in a manorial extent was also used to determine the amount of taxes and services owed by the tenants.