The Gatehouse website record of a licence to crenellate for Thornbury Castle granted on 1510 July 6

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In 1510 July 6, Edward, Duke of Buckingham (Edward Stafford) was granted, by Henry VIII, (In year 2 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Thournebury (Thornbury Castle)

546/38. Edward duke of Buckingham. Licence to impark 1,000 acres of land in the parish of Thournebury, Glouc.; also to castellate his manor or mansion of Thournebury. Windsor Castle, 6 July, 2 Hen. VIII. Del. Westm., 9 July. P.S. Pat. 2 Hen. VIII. p. 2, m. 5. {1157.} (LP Hen. VIII)

On 9 July 1510 Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, received a licence under privy seal from Henry VIII to impark 1,000 acres at Thornbury, to fortify, crenellate, and embattle his manor or mansion house there with walls of stone or lime and to make the building a fortilace or castle. (Hawkyard)

Granted at Windsor Castle. Grant by privy seal.

Comments

This unpopular but powerful noble was constantly in conflict with the king. The licence part of the break up/make up relationship.

Original source is;

Brewer, J.S. (ed), 1920, Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, of the Reign of Henry VIII Vol. 1 p. 320 online copy
National Archives C66/613, m. 5

(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
Guy, Neil, 2005-6, 'Thornbury Castle' Castle Studies Group Journal Vol 19 p. 207
Hawkyard, A.D.K., 1977, 'Thornbury Castle' Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society Vol. 95 p. 51-58 online copy

Stafford, Edward, third duke of Buckingham (1478–1521)

Stafford, Edward, third duke of Buckingham (1478–1521), magnate. One of the most powerful men in early Tudor England, capably of raising an army of retainers.
In spite of his prominence at court and in the country, the duke exercised little political influence, and was never one of the inner circle of councillors. Executed for treason in 1521. (Davies)

Biographical source include;

C. S. L. Davies, Sept 2004, ‘Stafford, Edward, third duke of Buckingham (1478–1521)’ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press) online edn, Jan 2008 online copy (subscription may be needed)

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.