The Gatehouse website record of a licence to crenellate for Riccall Manor granted on 1350 Feb 16

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In 1350 Feb 16, William de Excestre (William Exeter) was granted, by Edward III, (In year 24 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Rikhall (Riccall Manor)

Grant, of special grace, to William de Excestre, king's clerk, prebendary of Rikhall in the church of St. Peter, York, and to his successors of a weekly market on Wednesday at their manor of Rikhall, co. York, and of a yearly fair there on the vigil, the day and the morrow of Saint Margaret the Virgin: licence also to the said William to fortify his house (mansum) of Rikhall with a wall of stone and mortar and to crenellate it, and in that state to hold it to him and his heirs without let or hindrance of the king and his heirs or any their ministers.
By K. (CCalR)

Granted at Westminster. Grant by King.

Comments

The date of this licence, so soon after the Black Death, does suggest this may be a reward for medical service. Exeter was the queen's physician and, presumably also physician to the 10 surviving of 12 children of Edward and Phillippa. Two of these children died in 1348; 11 week old infant William and beloved daughter Joan (who died in France aged 15 years whilst on her way to be married to Peter of Castile - a heavily armed retinue did not save her). However 8 children and the Queen did survive.

Original source is;

Lyte, H.C. Maxwell (ed), 1916, Calendar of Charter Rolls Vol. 5 p. 120 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
Allison, K.J. (ed), 1976, 'Riccall' VCH Yorkshire East Riding Vol. 3

Exeter , William (d. 1359)

William Exeter (d. 1359) theologian and physician. Although described as king's clerk his position seems to have been the royal physician (to the queen) from 1330 to, possibly, 1354, but also served in some diplomatic missions.

Biographical source include;

Jeremy Catto, 2004, ‘Exeter , William (d. 1359)’ 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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