The Gatehouse website record of a licence to crenellate for Harringworth Manor granted on 1387 May 8

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In 1387 May 8, William de la Zouche of Totteneys was granted, by Richard II, (In year 10 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Haryngworth (Harringworth Manor)

Grant, of special grace, and so far as the king can, to William de la Zouche of Totnes of licence to fortify his manor of Haryngworth with a wall of stone and mortar and to crenellate and turret the same and make a castle thereof and hold it as such to him and his heirs; and that he and his heirs shall have a yearly fair there on the vigil, the day and the morrow of the nativity of St. John the Baptist, and a weekly market there on Tuesday. By p.s. {4312} (CChR)

Granted at Reading. Grant by privy seal.

Comments

Manor house licensed 1387 and 1431. The 1387 charter grants to William de la Zouche of Totteneys (Totnes) licence to crenellate, turellate, &c. the site of his manor of Haryngworth, and to hold a fair there, yearly, for three days. Dated at Redyng.

Original source is;

Lyte, H.C. Maxwell (ed), 1916, Calendar of Charter Rolls Vol. 5 p. 307 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;

Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol. 3 part 2 p. 422 online copy

William Zouche, third Baron Zouche (c.1340–1396)

William Zouche, third Baron Zouche (c.1340–1396), continued the family tradition of service to the crown at a time when close association with Richard II provided doubtful security. In 1384 he was accused, but later acquitted, of having slandered John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster. The following year he accompanied Richard II on his Scottish campaign, but was removed from court by the lords appellant in 1388 as a malign influence on the king. At the height of fears of invasion in 1383 he was ordered to repair to one of his manors in Devon to defend the coast there, but he resided mainly at Harringworth, which he had licence to crenellate and fortify in 1387. He first married, before October 1351, Agnes, daughter of Sir Henry Green and, after her death, Elizabeth, widow of John, Lord Arundel, and daughter of Edward Despenser, Lord Despenser. (Acheson)

Biographical source include;

Eric Acheson, 2004, ‘Zouche family (per. c.1254–1415)’ 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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