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In 1307 Aug 24, Willielmus de Dacre (William Dacre) was granted, by Edward II, (In year 1 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Dunmalloght (Dunwalloght Castle)
Licence to William de Dacre to crenellate his dwelling-house of Dunmalloght, co. Cumberland, in the Marches of Scotland. By p.s. (CPR)

Willielmus de Dacre ... mansum suum ... Dunmalloght in marchia Scotiae, Cumbr. (Turner and Parker)

Granted at Cumnock. Grant by privy seal.

Comments

Location of this site is difficult. It is attributed to Dacre Castle, a uncertain site in or near Dunmalloght Iron Age hill fort or Dunwalloght castle, a dubious site near Cumrew. Gatehouse favours the Dunwalloght castle site as there are some remains here and it is known that the Dacre held land in Cumrew at this period. The site there, on an isolated hillside, is that of a hunting lodge rather than a defensive castle.

The Lysons, in Magna Britania, suggest this was a duplicate of the licence for Drumburgh Castle, granted to Robert/Richard Brun, granted to Thomas (sic) Dacre, Baron of Burgh, as Lord paramount.

This is one of three licences of this date given to lords in Cumberland shortly after Edward I death at Burgh-by-Sands on 7 July, this effectively marked the end of this Scottish campaign. Licence given as a reward and possibly as a preparation against a Scottish counter-campaign.

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;

William Dacre (1265-1318)
William Dacre (1265-1318/19), very limited biographical details. His grandfather William (d. c. 1258) was Sheriff of Cumberland then Yorkshire, Governor of Carlisle. His son Ranulph (d. 1339) 1st Lord of Dacre, Sheriff of Cumberland, Governor of Carlisle. (see Naworth licence of 1335)

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.


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