The Gatehouse website record of a licence to crenellate for Rochester Castle granted on 1127 {Jan}

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In 1127 {Jan}, Archbishop William (William de Corbeil) was supposedly granted, by Henry I, (In year 26 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Rochester (Rochester Castle)

Notification by Henry I to all his lieges of Kent: That he confirms to the church of Canterbury and to Abp. William, and all his successors, the custody and constabulary of Rochester Castle for ever, and this by the counsel of his barons; and that they may make a fort (municionem) or tower as they please.
Witnesses: Roger Bp. of Salisbury; G{eoffrey} the Chancellor; William de Tancarville; Geoffrey fitz Payn. (Johnson and Cronne)

Granted at Winchester.

Although this document has been considered by some as a licence to crenellate it is rejected as a licence.

Comments

Date from John of Worcester who puts it in the year beginning Christmas 1126. Henry was at Winchester in January (A.S.C.). The Lambeth MS. (in margin) gives 1125. The entry is written in on p. 18 of the Lambeth MS. and p. 23 is an inserted schedule. P. 18 notes 'Hujus tantum habetur pars cum sigillo' and p. 188 'Hec invenitur'. (Johnson and Cronne)

A licence to extend an existing castle rather than to build anew but has been considered a licence to crenellate. One of the earliest documented examples of royal permission to build a fortification, although Coulson calls this essentially a custody agreement. The existing great tower resulted.

Original source is;

Johnson, C. and Cronne, H.A. (eds), 1956, Regesta Regum Anglo-Normannorum Vol. 2 p. 203 online copy
Lambeth MS. 1212, pp. 18, 23, 188 (copies)
Stowe MS. 927, fo. 3 (transcript (1630) from a cart. in the treasury of Ch. Ch. Canterbury)

(In fact, the original source given is usually a transcription/translation of what are precious medieval documents not readily availably. It should be noted that these transcription/translations often date to the nineteenth or early twentieth centuries and that unwitting bias of transcribers may affect the translation. Care should also be taken to avoid giving modern meaning to the medieval use of certain stock words and terms. Licentia is best translated as 'freedom to' not 'permission'.)

Significant later sources are;

Coulson, Charles, 2007-8, 'On Crenellating, in Kent and Beyond - A Retrospection' The Castle Studies Group Journal Vol. 21 p. 189-201 esp p. 193
Coulson, C., 1994, 'Freedom to Crenellate by Licence - An Historiographical Revision' Nottingham Medieval Studies Vol. 38 p. 104n50
Coulson, Charles, 1994, 'The Castles of the Anarchy' in King, Edmund (ed.), The Anarchy of King Stephen's Reign (Oxford University Press) p. 79
Coulson, C., 1982, 'Hierarchism in Conventual Crenellation' Medieval Archaeology Vol. 26 p. 95n2 online copy
Coulson, C., 1979, 'Structural Symbolism in Medieval Castle Architecture' Journal of the British Archaeological Association Vol. 132 p. 104n50

Corbeil, William de (d. 1136)

Corbeil, William de (d. 1136), archbishop of Canterbury. A Norman by birth and endowed with the Norman desire to building in massive masonry. He also did considerable building work at Canterbury and Rochester cathedrals.

Biographical source include;

Frank Barlow, 2004, ‘Corbeil, William de (d. 1136)’ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press) online copy (subscription may be needed)

More information about licences to crenellate can be found here.

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