TWELVE per cent of people questioned in the North of England reckoned it was a book in the Bible.

And none had ever clapped eyes on this national treasure and few knew where it is kept.

Actually, the Domesday Book - commissioned in 1085 by William the Conqueror to check out the value of the realm he had taken over at the Battle of Hastings 19 years earlier - is looked after by The National Archives at Kew in West London. It commissioned the research to coincide with the launch of the online Domesday Book service (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ domesday).

Domesday Book is the oldest public record at The National Archives.

Visitors to the website will be able to learn about the history of the book and search place-names. They can buy, for £3.50, a copy of the original page featuring the place and a translation of the entry into modern English. Place-names featured in South Cheshire include Creu (Crewe), Copehale (Coppenhall), Berchesford (Basford), Estone (Aston-juxta-Mondrum), Acatone (Acton), Wilauestune (Willaston), Wistanestune (Wistaston), Sanbec (Sandbach) and Eleacier (Alsager).