The Gatehouse website record of a licence to crenellate for Upwey granted on 1264 Feb 28

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In 1264 Feb 28, Ellis de Rabayn (Elias de Rabayn; Elyas de Rabayn; Rabayne) was granted, by Henry III, (In year 48 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Waylim (Upwey)

Licence for Richard Foliot and his heirs to enclose the dwelling place of his manor of Grymeston, co. Nottingham, with a dyke and a wall of stone and lime and to crenellate it at their will.
The like for Ellis de Rabayn as to the dwelling place of his manor of Waylim, co. Dorset. (CPR)

Granted at Rochester.

Comments

Directly follows, on the roll, the licence granted to Richard Foliot.

One of the earliest lords of Upwey was Ranulph de Baieux. In the time of Henry III. John Baieux left two daughters as his sole heirs. The King granted the marriage of one of them to Elias Rabayne, an eminent man of the period, who under colour of that grant carried the other daughter over the seas, so that he might seize the whole estate. The result did not come up to the expectation of the crafty EIias, for his estates were forfeited to the King as a punishment for his covetousness. (Treves)

It is unlikely this manor was fortified. Its 'defensive' value lay in its proximity to the coast and ships to France.

Original source is;

Lyte, H.C. Maxwell (ed), 1910, Calendar of Patent Rolls (1258-66) p. 382 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'.)

Elias de Rabayn. (d. 1285) Sheriff of Somerset and Dorset

Elias de Rabayn. (d. 1285) Sheriff of Somerset and Dorset from 1251-5, Constable of Corfe Castle in 1278. One of a group of Poitevin knights and nobles who came to England following the marriage of Henry III to Eleanor of Provence, their leaders were William de Valence and Aymer, Guy and Geoffrey de Lusignan. Richard was exceptional in the knightly followers in marring an English heiress and gaining significant land. The senior Poitevin's were unpopular and a reason for the Barons' Wars. Elias and his property may have been at some threat but the licence, for a minor holding, must have more to do with royal favour and establishing loyalty in troubled times, although the estate had also been recently acquired by marriage.

Biographical source include;

Ridgeway, H.W., 1989, 'Foreign Favourites and Henry III's Problems of Patronage, 1247-1258' The English Historical Review Vol. 104 No. 412. p. 590-610
Treves, F., 1906, Highways and Byways of Dorset p. 235 online copy
Elwes, G.R., 1901, 'Eponymous Families of Dorset' Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society Vol. 22 p. 128-9 online copy

More information about licences to crenellate can be found here.

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