What were the Hundred Rolls produced during Edward I's reign?

The Hundred Rolls were a heterogeneous collection of records produced following a major inquiry into local government initiated by Edward I shortly after his return to England in 1274.1

The inquiry was designed to investigate the administration of local affairs and the exercise of jurisdictional rights. By documenting these practices, the records highlighted various grievances and inefficiencies, which ultimately underscored the necessity for legal reform. These findings directly informed the legislative activity of Edward I's reign, leading to the issuance of the First Statute of Westminster in 1275 and subsequent legal measures intended to clarify royal rights and address the concerns of his subjects.1

The term "hundred" itself refers to a traditional unit of local government and taxation, which functioned as an intermediate administrative layer between the village and the shire.2