In 1479 Aug 15, Johannes Elrington, miles Thesaurarius Hospitii Regis (John Elryngton) was granted, by Edward IV, (In year 19 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Dixtherne (Great Dixter)
Licence for John Elryngton, knight, treasurer of the household, and his heirs to build walls and towers with stone, lime and sand around and within his manors of Dixthern and Udymere, co. Sussex, and to crenellate the same and to impark and enclose all the lands, meadows, feedings, pastures and woods pertaining to the said manors, and grant that they shall have free warren in all the demenses and lands pertaining to the manors and a several fishery in the stanks and the waters pertaining to them. By K. (CPR)
Johannes Elrington, miles Thesaurarius Hospitii Regis ... manerium ... Dixtherne, Sussex. (Turner and Parker)
Know that we of our special grace, in consideration of the good and faithful service rendered to us in diverse manners, by our beloved and faithful John Elryngton, Knight, the Treasurer of our household (hospitii), have granted and given license on behalf of ourselves and our heirs, as much as in us lies, to the same John, that he and his heirs, at their own will and pleasure, may build, make, and construct walls and towers, with stones, lime, and sand, around and within his manors of Dixthern and Udeymere, in the County of Sussex, and may enclose those manors with such walls and towers, and also may embattle, entower, krenellate, and machicolate the same walls and towers, and may hold those manors so enclosed, and those walls and towers so embattled, entowered, krenellated, and machicolated, built, made and constructed, for himself and his aforesaid heirs, for ever. Witness the King, at Guildford, on the 15th day of August. — (Pat. 19 Edw, lV., m. 20). (Blaauw)
Granted at Guildford. Grant by King.
Comments
Joint with Udymere and also licence to impark. Parker gives regnal year as 12 but this seems to be an error.
Original source is;
Lyte, H.C. Maxwell (ed), 1901, Calendar of Patent Rolls (1476-85) p. 162 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;
Emery, Anthony, 2006, Greater Medieval Houses Vol. 3 (Cambridge) p. 440 King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 479n57 Blaauw, William Henry, 1861, ' Royal Licenses to Fortify Towns and Houses in Sussex' Sussex Archaeological Collections Vol. 13 p. 116-7 online copy Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol. 3 part 2 p. 422 online copy
Sir John Elrington (1435-1483)
Sir John Elrington (1435-1483) Treasurer of the Household to King Edward IV 1471-83. Constable of Windsor 1474-83; Bailiff of Winchelsea 1474-83; Knight of the Body 1483. MP Middlesex 1478 and ?1483. Clerk of the Household by 1466. Numerous other offices and commissions. Knight of the Bath 1478. Sheriff Surrey and Sussex 1479-80. His numerous years of government service were well rewarded by Lancastrians and Yorkists.
Biographical source include;
Wedgewood, J.C., 1936, History of Parliament Biographies of the Members of the Commons House 1439-1509 (HMSO) Vol. 2 p. 297-9
More information about licences to crenellate can be found here.
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Record created by Philip Davis. This record last updated on Sunday, October 4, 2015.
