Ancient Demesne

Manors which, in the time of William the Conqueror, were in the hands of the crown, and are so recorded Tenure in ancient demesne may be pleaded in abatement to an action of ejectment. 2 Burrows, 1046, Tenants of this class had many privileges. 2 Sharswood, Bl. Comm. 99.

Manors which in the time of William the Conqueror were in the hands of the crown and are so recorded in the Domesday Book. Fitzh. Nat. Brev. 14, 56. Tenure in ancient desmesne may be pleaded in abatement to an action of ejectment; 2 Burr. 1046. Tenants of this class had many privileges; 2 Bla. Com. 99.

Manors which in the time of William the Co.nqueror were in the hands of the crown, and are so recorded in the Domesday Book. Fitzh. Nat. Brev. 14. 56; Baker v. Wich, 1 Salk. 56. Tenure in ancient demesne may be pleaded in abatement to an action of ejectment. Rust v. Roe, 2 Burr. 1046. Also a species of copyhold, which differs, however, from common copyholds in certain privileges, but yet must be conveyed by surrender, according to the custom of the manor. There are three sorts:
(1) Where the lands are held freely by the king's grant;
(2) customary freeholds, which are held of a manor in ancient demesne, but not at the lord's will, although they are conveyed by surrender, or deed and admittance;
(3) lands held by copy of court-roll at the lord's will, denominated copyholds of base tenure.

Defined under Ancient in Black's Law Dictionary.

Manors which in the time of William the Conqueror were in the hands of the erown, and are so recorded in the Domesday Book. Fitzh. Nat. Brey. 14, 56, Tenure in ancient demesne may be pleaded in abatement to an action of ejectment. 2 Burr. 1046, Also a species of copyhold, which differs, however, from common copyholds in certain privileges, but yet must he conveyed by surrender, according to the custom of the manor. There are three sorts: (1) Where the lands are held freely by the king’s grant; (2) customury freeholds, which are held of a manor in ancient demesne, but not at the lord’s will, although they are conveyed by surrender, or deed and admittance; (3) lands held by copy of court-roll at the lord's will, denominated copyholds of base tenure.

[L. Fr. auncien demeyne; L. Lat. antiquum dominicum, vetus patrimonium domini.] In English law. A species of copyhold tenure existing in certain manors which, though now perhaps granted out to private subjects, were actually in the hands of the crown in the time of Edward the Confessor, or William the Conqueror, and so appear to have been by Domesday Book, in which they were entered. 1 Steph. Com. 211. 2 Bl. Com. 99. 1 Crabb's Real Prop. 118, § 924. Hob. 188. 4 Inst. 269. It seems to have been originally a species of villein socage; the tenants being the same with those who are described by Bracton as glebae ascripticii, (q. v.) Bract. fol. 209. See Id. fol. 7. It is called ancient demesne, as having been peculiar to the demesnes or manors of the crown, from a very early period, that is, at or before the conquest; (ante conquestum, in conquestu). Id. ibid. See Demesne.

Engl. law, are those lands which either were reserved to the crown at the original distribution of landed pro- -perty, or such as came to it afterwards, by forfeiture or other means. 1 Salk. 57; Hob. 88; 4 Inst. 264; 1 BI. Com. 286.