The Gatehouse website record of a licence to crenellate for Basing House granted on 1261 Aug 14

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 1261 Aug 14, Robert de Sancto Johanne (Robert de St John) was granted, by Henry III, (In year 45 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Basing (Basing House)

Comments

This was merely for an earthwork castle, a paling on the bank then thrown up. It is not clear whether it was recently thrown up.
Quite what this licence is about is unclear. Tensions were growing between the king and his barons and they would be at war in 1264. So, perhaps this is a very rare example of a king actually exercising his technical right to control fortifications.

Original source is;

Lyte, H.C. Maxwell (ed), 1910, Calendar of Patent Rolls (1258-66) p. 172 online copy

(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, C., 1994, 'Freedom to Crenellate by Licence - An Historiographical Revision' Nottingham Medieval Studies Vol. 38 p. 125n118
King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 197n2

Robert de St John (1211-1269)

Robert de St John (1211-1269) Lord Lieutenant and Seneschal of Aquitaine. Constable of Portchester Castle.

The said RORERT DE ST. JOHN, Lord of Basing, in 1254, 38 Hen. III. obtained a charter of free warren in all his demesne lands at Warnford and Chauton, in com. Southampton, Westreet, Hampton, Godenwood, Walferton, and Bernham, in com. Sussex; as also at Schisford, in com. Berks: and in 42 Henry III. had summons, among divers other great men, to be at Chester upon Monday next after the feast of St. John Baptist, well accoutred with horse and arms, to oppose the incursions of the Welsh. Likewise in 45 Hen. III. he obtained licence to fix a pale upon the bank of his moat at Basing; as also to continue it so fortified during the King's pleasure: and in 50 Hen. III. was constituted governor of the castle of Porchester, but died the next year... (Collins p. 45)

Biographical source include;

Burke, John,1831, A general and heraldic dictionary of the peerages of England, Ireland, and Scotland, extinct, dormant, and in abeyance. England p. 458
Collins, Arthur, 1812, Peerage of England (London: F.C. and J. Rivington)

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.