Adam De Basing

Adam de Basing was a member of one of the leading merchant families of London. He established himself in a lucrative position as Household merchant to the court, supplying a range of goods from cloth of gold, chasubles, mitres, copes, vestments, banners and occasionally precious metals. In this capacity, over twenty-two year, his payments totaled some £1,733. Basing was also paid in other ways, for example in 1244 he was granted the entire wool production of the bishopric of Winchester. He also made loans to the king.

De Basing was also an investor in property in London. His family’s property interests extended to at least eight parishes as far as Hendon and Kentishtown.

De Basing's total wealth would have been in the order of £10,000 when he died, or about £2.8bn in 2010s.