Hide (unit)
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The hide was a variable unit of land area used in medieval England outside the Danelaw, defined according to its arable yield and taxable potential rather than its exact dimensions. This gave it a range of approximately 60 to 120 old acres, or 15 to 30 modern acres (6 to 12 hectares). The Danelaw equivalent was the carucate.
This definition was articulated by King Athelstan:
| “ | If a ceorl throve, so that he had fully five hides of land, church and kitchen, bell-house and back gatescal, and special duty in the king's hall, then he was thenceforth of [thegn]-right worthy. | ” |
- A hide could agriculturally support one household
- Five hides were expected to produce one fully armed soldier in times of war.
- Ten hides were formed into a tithing.
- Ten tithings made a hundred.
- A variable number of hundreds would be grouped to form a shire.
[edit] External links
- "Hide" on sizes.com - a highly detailed description
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