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DEMESNE (DEMESNE, DEMAIN, DOMAIN, &c.)

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Originally appearing in Volume V07, Page 980 of the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.
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DEMESNE (DEMESNE, DEMAIN, DOMAIN, &c.) ,I that portion of the lands of a See also:manor not granted out in See also:freehold tenancy, but (a) retained by the See also:lord of the manor for his own use and occupation or (b) let out as tenemental See also:land to his retainers or " See also:villani." This demesne land, originally held at the will of the lord, in course of See also:time came to acquire fixity of See also:tenure, and See also:developed into the See also:modern See also:copyhold (see MANOR). It is from demesne as used in sense (a) that the modern restricted use of the word comes, i.e. land immediately surrounding the See also:mansion or dwelling-See also:house, the paek or See also:chase. Demesne of the See also:crown, or royal demesne, was that See also:part of the crown lands not granted out ,to feudal tenants, but which remained under the management of stewards appointed by the crown. These crown lands, since the See also:accession of See also:George III., have been appropriated by See also:parliament, the See also:sovereign receiving in return a fixed See also:annual sum. (see See also:CIVIL. See also:LIST). See also:Ancient demesne signified lands or manors vested in the See also:king at the time of the See also:Norman See also:Conquest. There were See also:special privileges surrounding tenancies of these lands, such as freedom from tolls and duties, exemption from See also:danegeld and See also:amercement, from sitting on juries, &c. Hence, the phrase " ancient demesne " came to be applied to the tenure by which the lands were held. Land held in ancient demesne is sometimes also called customary freehold.

End of Article: DEMESNE (DEMESNE, DEMAIN, DOMAIN, &c.)

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