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In 1315 March 12, Ranulpus de Albo Monasterio (made at the request of the venerable father W. bishop of Exeter) (Ranulf de Blanchminster) was granted, by Edward II, (In year 8 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Inor [Ivor] (Ennor Castle)
Licence, at the request of W. bishop of Exeter, for Ranulph de Albo Monasterio to crenellate his dwelling-place of Inor in the island of Sully, co. Cornwall. (CPR)

Ranulpus de Albo Monasterio (made at the request of the venerable father W. bishop of Exeter) ... mansum suum de Ivor in ... Insula de Sully, Cornub. (Turner and Parker)

Granted at Westminster.

Comments

In the reign of Edward I. Ralph de Blanchminster held the castle of Ennor, in the Scilly islands, by the service of finding 12 armed men to keep the peace in those islands: complaint was made, that he had not only failed in this service, but had committed the King's coroner, who came to the island for the purpose of holding an assize, to the prison of La Val. In the year 1314, Ralph de Blanchminster had the King's licence for embattling his castle of Inor, in the isles of Scilly (Lysons)
The earliest reference to Ennor Castle is in a deed of AD 1244 and by 1306 Ranulf de Blanchminster held the castle. A royal licence to crenellate the castle was granted to Ranulf in 1315 but in 1337, the castle along with the rest of Scilly was included in the lands of the newly created Duchy of Cornwall. Re-establishing royal favour and confidence may be part of this licence but confirmation of ownership of a holding obtain through his wife might also play a part.

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;

Sir Ralph de Blanchminster (d. 1348)
Walter de Stapledon (1261-1326) Bishop of Exeter. Was to become Lord Treasurer in 1320 and probably a government minister of some rank in 1315.
Sir Ralph, lived to a considerable age and held an important place in the county. In 1314 he was returned as Member for the county, and in the same year he was summoned to the muster at Newcastle-on-Tyne to perform military service against the Scots. The Blanchminsters had also acquired the lordship of Scilly, possibly through the first Sir Ralph's marriage with his wife Isabella. (Bone)

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.


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