The Gatehouse website record of a licence to crenellate for Chudleigh Bishops Palace granted on 1379 July 30

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In 1379 July 30, Thomas, episcopus Exonien (Bishop Thomas Brantingham) was granted, by Richard II, (In year 3 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Chudele or elsewhere in the bishopric (Chudleigh Bishops Palace)

Licence for Thomas, bishop of Exeter, at his manor of Chudele, co. Devon, or elsewhere within his bishopric on his own lands to make and crenellate a fortalice. By p.s. (CPR)

Thomas, episcopus Exonien ... fortalicium ... Chudele, Devon. (Turner and Parker)

Granted at Westminster. Grant by privy seal.

Comments

A licence to crenellate the episcopal manor was granted to Bishop Thomas Brantingham in 1379. The licence was to build (make and crenellate) a fortalice at Chudleigh or elsewhere within his bishopric on his own land.

Original source is;

Lyte, H.C. Maxwell (ed), 1895, Calendar of Patent Rolls (1377-81) p. 377 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;

Higham, Bob, 2010-11, 'Brantingham's Licence to Crenelllate of 1379 re-visited' Castle Studies Group Journal Vol. 24 p. 292-298
Emery, Anthony, 2006, Greater Medieval Houses Vol. 3 (Cambridge) p. 695
Thompson, M.W., 1998, Medieval bishops' houses in England and Wales (Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing) p. 168
Higham, R. A., 1988, 'Devon Castles: an annotated list' Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society Vol. 46 p. 146
King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 124n39
Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol. 3 part 2 p. 418 online copy

Brantingham, Thomas (d. 1394)

Brantingham himself said that he had served Edward III and Queen Philippa ‘from our adolescence to our time as a bishop’ ... A financial account for the year between February 1353 and February 1354 names Brantingham as an attorney for the comptroller of the household. He was appointed cofferer on 5 October 1359, with executive responsibility for finance during the French campaign of 1359–60... On the accession of Richard II, with the king a minor and consensus the government's objective, Brantingham was recalled as treasurer on 19 July 1377 after a year of severe political crisis. (Davies)

The post of treasurer was becoming increasingly unpopular but the licence is probably a reward for taking on a difficult job rather than as a defence from potential attack.

Biographical source include;

R. G. Davies, Sept 2004, ‘Brantingham, Thomas (d. 1394)’ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press) online edn, Jan 2008 online copy (subscription may be needed)

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.