The Gatehouse website record of a licence to crenellate for Ludworth Tower granted on 1422 Aug 6

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In 1422 Aug 6, Thomas Holden (Sometimes said to be granted to Roger Holden) was granted, by Cardinal Langley, Bishop of Durham, (In year 16 of his pontificate) a Durham licence to crenellate Ludworth' (Ludworth Tower)

Has licence to enclose, fortify, and crenellate his manor of Ludworth'. (Rep. Dep. Keeper)

Tho. &c. Sciatis q'd de gra. n'ra. concessimus & lic. dedimus p' nob' & succ. n'ris quantum in nob. est dil'co armig'o n'ro Tho. Holden q'd ipe man'ium suum de Ludworth in co. Dun. muro de Petra & calce firmare kirnellare batillare et turrillare & man'ium illud sic firmatum kirnellatum batellatum et turrillatum tenere possit sibi et he'ib's suis imp'p'm si'e occ'oe v'l impedimento n'ri vel succ. n'ror Justic. esc. vie. aut al. ballivor. seu min, n'ror v'l succ. n'rorum quor. cunq. In c. &c. Pat. D. &c. 6d. Aug. an. p' n'ri sexto decimo.–Rot. E.Langley in dorso No 50. (Hutchinson Vol. 2 p. 748-9)

Comments

In 1422 Bishop Langley granted licence to Thomas Holden to crenellate his manor.

A family called Ludworth owned Ludworth in the 1200s and 1300s and took their name from the place. Ludworth passed later to Thomas Holden who was wary of the Scottish raids that ravaged Durham. (Simpson)

Ludworth, in which the church acquired an interest at an early date was held by a family of the same name from before 1209 to 1349, and afterwards by the Holdens, who alienated it to Roger Thornton, merchant, whose heiress carried it to the family of Lumley. (Mackenzie and Ross)

'licence of bishop Langley, dated the 30th of November, 1428, for an exchange of lands between the convent of Durham and Thomas Holden, by which he was to take lands in Ludworth for lands and rents m Windegates' (Hutchinson p. 15)

It is uncertain as to when Holden actually obtained the manor, although he was clearly increasing his holdings at this time.

Original source is;

1872, Report of the Deputy Keeper Public Records Vol. 33 p. 191

(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;

Simpson, David, 2003, 'Towering relic that was was ruined by a 'thoughtless population'' online online copy
Emery, Anthony, 1996, Greater Medieval Houses Vol. 1 (Cambridge) p. 159
King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 141n13
Bates, C.J., 1891, Border Holds of Northumberland (London and Newcastle: Andrew Reid) p. xv
Eneas Mackenzie, Marvin Ross, 1834, An Historical, Topographical, and Descriptive View of the County Palatine of Durham (Mackenzie and Dent)
Hutchinson, Wm, 1785-94, The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham Vol. 1 p. 334 notes
Hutchinson, Wm, 1785-94 (1823 edn), The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham Vol. 2 p. 748- online copy

No details of Thomas Holden identified, beyond him being called 'armigero' (esquire).

More information about licences to crenellate can be found here.

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