The Gatehouse website record of a licence to crenellate for Redmarshall Rectors Tower granted on 1462

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 1462, Alan [Adam] Morland, parson of the church of Redmershulle was granted, by Bishop Lawrence Booth, (In year 5 of his pontificate) a Durham Pardon licence to crenellate Redmershulle (Redmarshall Rectors Tower)

Has pardon for having built a tower to his rectory house and begun to crenelate it as a fortalice, without licence; and has licence to fortify the same. (Rep. Dep. Keeper)

Cum muro de petra et calce includere, batillare, et kernellare. (Surtees)

Comments

Rectors tower retrospectively granted episcopal licence to crenellate, in 1462, Alan Morland, parson.

If Alan was related to William Morland (an up and coming royal clerk) then perhaps obtained to reflect the status of the Morland family.

Original source is;

1873, Report of the Deputy Keeper Public Records Vol. 35 p. 87
Dur. Rec. cl. 3, R. 48, m. 10, no. 49
Rot. Booth, Ao. No 49

(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. 160
King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 141n23
Page, Wm (ed), 1928, VCH Durham Vol. 3 p. 320 online copy
Bates, C.J., 1891, Border Holds of Northumberland (London and Newcastle: Andrew Reid) p. xv
Surtees, R., 1823, The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham (London) Vol. 3 p. 72n26 online copy
Hutchinson, Wm, 1785-94, The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham Vol. 3 p. 162
Hutchinson, Wm, 1785-94, The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham Vol. 1 p. 359

Alan Morland

No biographical details for Alan Morland identified. A William Morland, clerk, was probably master of the Rolls in 1471.

Lawrence Booth (c. 1420 – 1480) was Bishop of Durham. Became Chancellor to Queen Margaret and, in about 1456, he became Keeper of the Privy Seal, and in that same year on January 28 he was also appointed one of the tutors and guardians of the Prince of Wales. He was Lord Privy Seal until 1460. Although a Lancastrian, after the fall of Henry VI Booth adapted himself to the new status quo. He submitted to Edward in April of 1461, and at the end of June beat back a raid led by the Lords Ros, Dacre and Rougemont-Grey who brought Henry VI over the border to try and raise a rebellion in the north of England. Edward named him his confessor.

Biographical source include;

Wikipedia entry

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.