The Gatehouse website record of a licence to crenellate for Gommerock granted on 1402 Oct 13

GATEHOUSE

The comprehensive gazetteer and bibliography of the medieval castles, fortifications and palaces of England, Wales, the Islands.

Home

The listings

Other Info

Books

Links

Downloads

Contact

Print Page

Next Record

Previous Record

Back to list

In 1402 Oct 13, Johannes Corp was granted, by Henry IV, (In year 4 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Dertemuth (Gommerock)

Licence for John Corp of Dertemuth to crenellate a lodging his by the entrance of the port of the town for defence against the kings enemies. By p.s. (CPR)

Johannes Corp ... quoddam hospitium juxta introitum portus vill de ... Dertemuth, Devon. (Turner and Parker)

Granted at Westminster. Grant by privy seal.

Comments

Licence for defence against the king's enemies. Clearly intended to be a serious fortification. Called a municipal licence by Coulson. Sometimes identified as an earlier building on or near the site of Kingswear castle or Paradise House, but the Gommerock identification seems most likely. The precursor to Dartmouth castle was built by John Hawley from 1388 but Gommerock also dates from this time, being the other end of the harbour chain. The chain was laid in 1400, so the licence either represents a 'topping out' of the fortification, or more probably, was applied for to give Corp some kudos. The much large fort at the other end of the chain, built by the more important John Hawley, was not given a licence. Corp seems to have indulged in some 'oneupmanship'.

Both Corp and Hawley were a leading seamen, ship owners and merchants in Dartmouth and served in official and unofficial (privateer) royal fleets. Both were actively concerned with the defence of Dartmouth. Corp served on a commission regarding the defence of Dartmouth in 1381. There is no question that the Gommerock building was defensive but this building did not require a licence and the licence presumably was granted to give additional kudos to John Corp.

Original source is;

Lyte, H.C. Maxwell (ed), 1905, Calendar of Patent Rolls (1401-05) p. 219 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;

Coulson, C., 1995, 'Battlements and the Bourgeoisie: Municipal Status and the Apparatus of Urban Defence' in Church, Stephen (ed), Medieval Knighthood Vol. 5 (Boydell) p170n201, 189
Higham, R. A., 1988, 'Devon Castles: an annotated list' Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society Vol. 46 p. 146
Hingeston, F.C., 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. 421(wrongly identified as Dartmouth Castle) online copy

John Corp (d.c. 1417)

John Corp (d.c. 1417), 1 Oct. 1399 Appointed Deputy Butler in all ports in Devon. Numerous royal appointments. M.P. for Dartmouth in 1411 and 1413.

Biographical source include;

Roskell, J.S., Clark, Linda and Rawcliffe, Carole, 1992, The House of Commons 1386-1421 (History of Parliament Trust) Vol. 2 p. 663-4

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.