The Gatehouse website record of a licence to crenellate for Hawstead Hall granted on 1510 March 8

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In 1510 March 8, Robert Drury was granted, by Henry VIII, (In year 1 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Hansted Hall [Hausted] (Hawstead Hall)

414/30. Sir Robert Drury, the King's Councillor. Licence to impark 2,000 acres of land, and 50 acres of wood, in the parishes of Hansted, Whepsted, Hornengserth, Great Nowton, Onhows, Buxhale, Harleston, Shelond, Rede, Chedbergh, Chevington, Hartest, Somerton, and Brokeley, Suff., with free warren and fishery there, and in Norf., Suff., and Bucks; - also licence to enclose with walls and towers his manors of Hansted Hall, Buknahams, and Onhowshalle, Suff. Greenwich, 8 March, 1 Hen. VIII. Del. Westm., 12 March. P.S. Pat. 1 Hen. VIII. p. 2, m. 2. {947.}

Granted at Greenwich. Grant by privy seal.

Comments

Robert Drury was granted, in 1510, licence to crenellate his manors of Hanstead Hall, Buknahams and Onhowshalle, Suff. Emery calls this Hanstead and puts this in Buckinghamshire (presumably a misinterpretation of Buknahams), but this is Hawstead Hall Suffolk.

Original source is;

Brewer, J.S. (ed), 1920, Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, of the Reign of Henry VIII Vol. 1 p. 191 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. 212
Copinger, W.A., 1911, Manors of Suffolk Vol. 7 p. 35 online copy

Drury, Sir Robert (b. before 1456, d. 1535)

Drury, Sir Robert (b. before 1456, d. 1535), lawyer and speaker of the House of Commons. Drury was a councillor and knight of the body under Henry VIII. In the early years of the reign he served on several commissions, devoting much time to resolving border disputes with Scotland. Drury first became a JP for Suffolk in 1488 and thereafter served on many local commissions until his death. He was MP for Suffolk in 1491, 1495, and perhaps in 1510. In 1495 he was elected speaker in parliament. (Hyde)

Biographical source include;

Patricia Hyde, Sept 2004, ‘Drury, Sir Robert (b. before 1456, d. 1535)’ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press) online edn, Jan 2008 online copy (subscription may be needed)
Wedgewood, J.C., 1936, History of Parliament Biographies of the Members of the Commons House 1439-1509 (HMSO) Vol. 2 p. 284

More information about licences to crenellate can be found here.

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