The Gatehouse website record of a licence to crenellate for New Hall, Boreham granted on 1491 Nov 8

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 1491 Nov 8, Thomas, earl of Ormonde (Thomas Butler) was granted, by Henry VII, (In year 7 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Newehall (New Hall, Boreham)

Licence for Thomas earl of Ormond to build walls and towers of stone, lime, sand and 'brike' round and within the manor of Newehall, co. Essex, and to crenellate and machicolate the same so to hold the same for ever, also to impark 1,000 acres of land, wood, meadow, pasture, heath and moor in the parishes of Boram, Springfelde, and Little Waltham, co. Essex; and to have free-warren for ever in the said manor. By p.s. (CPR)

Granted at Westminster. Grant by privy seal.

Comments

Licence to crenellate granted to Thomas, earl of Ormonde in 1491 for the house then called Walkfares.
His main estates had been in Ireland but he had some difficulty in claiming this from Piers Butler (ultimately to become 8th earl of Ormond) so this may be an alternative English home, although, more likely, a hunting lodge with easy reach of the court at Westminster.

Original source is;

Lyte, H.C. Maxwell (ed), 1914, Calendar of Patent Rolls (1485-94) p. 367 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'.)

Thomas Butler, seventh earl of Ormond (c.1424–1515)

Thomas Butler, seventh earl of Ormond (c.1424–1515). He was attainted, but restored by Henry VII' s first Parliament, November 1485, and the statutes made at Westminster, by Edward IV, which declared him and his brothers traitors, were utterly abrogated. He was afterwards sworn of the Privy Council of England, and had summons to Parliament, 14 November 1495, as "Thomas Ormond de Rochford.”

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.