The Gatehouse website record of a licence to crenellate for Tanfield Castle granted on 1348 Nov 18

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In 1348 Nov 18, Matilda, quae fuit uxor Johannis de Marmyon, militis (Matilda [Maud] widow of Sir John Marmion) was granted, by Edward III, (In year 22 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Westtanfeld [Westcanfeld] (Tanfield Castle)

Licence for Maud late the wife of John de Marmyoun, knight, to crenellate the manor of Westtanfeld, co. York. By p.s. (CPR)

Matilda, quae fuit uxor Johannis de Marmyon, militis ... manerium ... Westcanfeld, Ebor. (Turner and Parker)

Granted at Westminster. Grant by privy seal.

Comments

Licence to crenellate granted to Sir John Marmion in 1314, for his house called L'Ermitage' and repeated in 1348 when granted to his widow Matilda Depending on the date of the abandonment of the site at Magdelan Field this may refer to either site (or it's possible the 1348 licence was for the new house).

The earlier licence was for L'ermitage in the wood. This suggests this was for the isolated, poorly known site, in Magdelan Field. This licence is, possibly, for the rebuilt house on the site of the original manorial centre, in the village by the church, of which the surviving 'Marmion Tower' was the gatehouse and was probably built at this time. Quite the reason for abandoning the relatively new Magdelan Field house and returning to the old manorial centre is not known. Perhaps Maud felt that, in her late 50's and with the Black Death just starting, she wanted to be nearer the parish church.

Original source is;

Lyte, H.C. Maxwell (ed), 1906, Calendar of Patent Rolls (1348-50) p. 210 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, 1996, Greater Medieval Houses Vol. 1 (Cambridge) p. 421
King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 541n141a
Longstaff, W.H.D., 1859, Gentleman's Magazine Vol. 9 part 2 p. 504 online copy
Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol. 3 part 2 p. 415 online copy

Maud de Furnival (1292-1360)

Matilda or Maud de Furnival was daughter of Thomas de Furnival and Joan le Despenser, she married John Marmion in 1305. Joan was aunt to Hugh Despenser the elder.

Biographical source include;

Cokayne, G. E., 2000, Complete Peerage of England Scotland Ireland Great Britain and the United Kingdom (Sutton Publishing Ltd) Vol. 5 online copy

More information about licences to crenellate can be found here.

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