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Most of the people mentioned in Domesday were
connected with farming, either as workers on the land or as those who received
a share in the profits derived from ownership. A few other occupations are
mentioned, one of which was fishing. At Somerton, 2 fisheries were worth 10
shillings, as were 2 at Wedmore and 3 at Cheddar. The 2 fisheries at Muchelney
paid a rent of 6,000 eels, and an orchard at Langport paid its rent to the
manor of Staple Fitzpaine in the form of 50 eels. Unlike Devonshire, Somerset
had no saltpans along its coast, but there are references indicating the
possibility that iron was found in workable quantities in west Somerset. A
'bloom' of iron appears as a payment from several manors. One was due to South
Petherton from Cricket St Thomas, Whitestaunton produced 4, at Alford 8 were
due from the villeins, at Bickenhall each free man owed one bloom to the
King's manor of Curry Rivel, while at Laxworthy in Enmore 3 mills paid 4
blooms. At Glastonbury there were 8 smiths but no reference to any source of
supply for their metal. Perhaps the most interesting of all are the references
to vineyards. There were three vineyards, probably introduced by the Norman
abbot, Thurstan, at Glastonbury, Pamborough and Meare. At North Curry there
were 7 acres of vineyard, and a small one on the demesne at Muchelney.
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