The Gatehouse website record of a licence to crenellate for Gawthorpe granted on 1480 July 14

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In 1480 July 14, William Gascoigne, knight was granted, by Edward IV, (In year 20 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Gaukethorpe (Gawthorpe)

Licence for William Gascoigne, knight, or his heirs to crenellate their manor of Gaukethorpe, co. York, and to enclose and impark 200 acres of land, 100 acres of meadow, 60 acres of pasture and 40 acres of wood of their demense lands in Gaukethorpe, Wardeley and Harwod and 1,000 acres of land, 400 acres of meadow, 200 acres of pasture and 600 acres of wood in Thwhouse, Lofthouse, Wardeley, Harwod and Wyke of their demense lands, provided that they be not within the metes of the king's forest. By p.s. (CPR)

Granted at Westminster. Grant by privy seal.

Comments

Also to impark a large area (2600 acres) of demense lands.

Original source is;

Lyte, H.C. Maxwell (ed), 1901, Calendar of Patent Rolls (1476-85) p. 203-4 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, 1996, Greater Medieval Houses Vol. 1 (Cambridge) p. 422

Sir William Gascoigne (d.c. 1487)

The Gascoignes were a gentry family of long standing and this was their caput also of long standing. Sir William Gascoigne (d.c. 1487) (given dates of birth for William Gascoignes' vary considerably and their seems to be confusion between the various Williams) married Margaret daughter of Sir Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland. An earlier William had been a chief justice, but Gatehouse can not find any particular history of royal service for this William, although, indubitable, he served Percy and may have fought at Bosworth for Richard III in 1486. Another William Gascoigne, fought for the Lancastrians at the battle of Towton in 1461. He may have been the father of this William and the licence may be about this William confirming his loyalty to the Yorkist cause.

More information about licences to crenellate can be found here.

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