The Gatehouse website record of a licence to crenellate for Lincoln Cathedral Close granted on 1318 Dec 6

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Grant to the dean and chapter of the church of St. Mary, Lincoln, after recitation of the licence granted by Edward I for enclosing the precincts of the cathedral with a wall of the height of twelve feet, and of a former grant by the king to the said dean and chapter to the like effect, that they may raise the wall surrounding the said precincts beyond the height of twelve feet, and build turrets and crenellate the wall so raised and the turrets. By K. (CPR)

1318, 6 Dec. At York.—Confirmation by Edward II. of a license from Edward I. to the Dean and Chapter to enclose the precinct of the Cathedral Church with walls and gates, and to crenellate, on account of the nocturnal inroads of thieves and other evil-doers, causing frequent manslaughter, etc.; with the addition of license to raise the walls twelve feet higher and to make as many turrets as they please.
An office copy from the Public Records, made by George Holmes and attested by W. Harvey, 24 Feb. 1704. Made for the Corporation of Lincoln. (HRC)

Comments

The Dean and Chapter received licenses to crenellate the Cathedral. The first for a 12 foot wall (issued 1285 and repeated 1316) the second to raise the wall and add turrets (issued 1318).

Original source is;

Lyte, H.C. Maxwell (ed), 1903, Calendar of Patent Rolls (1317-21) p. 257 online copy
Historical Manuscripts Commission, 1895, 'The corporation of Lincoln: Royal charters', The Manuscripts of Lincoln, Bury. St Edmunds etc.: Fourteenth report, Appendix; part VIII p. 2-14 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;

Thompson, M.W., 1998, Medieval bishops' houses in England and Wales (Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing) p. 167
Coulson, C., 1982, 'Hierarchism in Conventual Crenellation' Medieval Archaeology Vol. 26 p. 93 online copy

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.

Dean Henry de Mammesfeld (sat 1315-28)