GATEHOUSE
The comprehensive gazetteer and bibliography of the medieval castles, fortifications and palaces of England, Wales, the Islands.
 
 
Home
The listings
Other Info
Books
Links
Downloads
Contact
 
Print Page 
 
Next Record 
Previous Record 
Back to list 
In 1259 Nov 7, Richard de Clare was granted, by Henry III, (In year 44 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Suthwaude (Southwold Castle)
Licence for Richard de Clare, earl of Gloucester and Hertford, to build (de novo construere) and fortify a castle at his manor of Manhale, co Essex, and another castle at his manor of Suthwaude co. Suffolk.
Memorandum that on Friday the morrow of St. Leonards the king ordered the above-written letter to the said earl of Gloucester to be made in the presence of Roger le Bigod, earl marshal, Hugh le Bigod, the justiciary of England, Henry de Wengham, the chancellor, John Mansell, treasurer of York, and others of the council in the queen's chapel at Westminster. (CPR)

Granted at Westminster. Grant by Memorandum that on Friday the morrow of St. Leonards the king ordered the above-written letter to the said earl of Gloucester to be made in the presence of Roger le Bigod, earl marshal, Hugh le Bigod, the justiciary of England, Henry de Wengham, the chancellor, John Mansell, treasurer of York, and others of the council in the queen's chapel at Westminster..

Comments

Licence granted 1259 to Richard de Clare. Something may have been built. The manor had just been obtained from Simon, Abbot of St. Edmunds in exchange for Mildenhall. The licence may have functioned as a legal and royal confirmation of this exchange.

Original source is;

(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;

Clare, Richard de, sixth earl of Gloucester and fifth earl of Hertford (1222–1262)
Clare, Richard de, sixth earl of Gloucester and fifth earl of Hertford (1222–1262), magnate. Richard was far too powerful a lord to insult by not giving a licence but this is far from his real military power base in south Wales.

Biographical source include;

More information about licences to crenellate can be found here.

Please do inform Gatehouse if you see any errors, can add information or can otherwise help to improve this resource. Please contact Gatehouse.

Record created by Philip Davis. This record last updated on Sunday, October 4, 2015.


¤¤¤¤¤