The Gatehouse website record of a licence to crenellate for House in Parish of St. Mary atte Stronde, London granted on 1305 June 19

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In 1305 June 19, W. Covent. et Lych., Episcopus (Bishop William Langton) was granted, by Edward I, (In year 33 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate manso suo in parochia Sanctae Mariae (House in Parish of St. Mary atte Stronde, London)

Licence for W. bishop of Coventry and Lichfield to crenellate his houses in his dwelling-place in the parish of St. Mary atte Stronde without the bar of the New Temple, London, as well those that are in his bishopric as those built of stone and lime by him in a plot acquired by him in fee simple, and to build of stone and lime a turret in the angle of his dwelling place towards the east on the river Thames and to crenellate it. By K. on the information of R. de Cotingham. (CPR)

W. Covent. et Lych., Episcopus ... domos suas in manso suo in parochia Sanctae Mariae ... Barram novi Templi, London., tam videlicet illas quae sunt de Episcopatu praedicto, quam illas quas in quadam placea, quam sibi et heredibus suis, adquisivit, aedificavit de petra et calce kernellare necnon et quandam Turellam in angulo mansi sui praedicti ibidem versus orientem super aquam Thamis. similiter de petra et calce construere et kernellare ... Lond., Midd. (Turner and Parker)

Original source is;

Lyte, H.C. Maxwell (ed), 1898, Calendar of Patent Rolls (1301-7) p. 367 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;

Emery, Anthony, 2006, Greater Medieval Houses Vol. 3 (Cambridge) p. 439
Thompson, M.W., 1998, Medieval bishops' houses in England and Wales (Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing) p. 167
Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol. 3 part 2 p. 405 online copy

Langton, Walter (d. 1321)

Langton, Walter (d. 1321), administrator and bishop of Coventry and Lichfield... Guisborough describes Langton as a poor clerk; elsewhere he is said to have been in Edward I's service from his youth. Appearing first as a wardrobe clerk in 1281–2... In 1305 he was a member of an embassy sent to Lyons to secure papal absolution from Edward's oath to maintain the charters, and attended Clement V's consecration on 14 November. On 2 July 1306, jointly with Archbishop William Greenfield of York (d. 1315), Langton was appointed keeper of the realm during Edward I's absence in Scotland. (Haines)

Biographical source include;

Roy Martin Haines, 2004, ‘Langton, Walter (d. 1321)’ 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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