In 1536 Sept 21, Ric. Gray, Wm. Elleson, Th. Bell, Th. Clerke, Rog. Dekeson, Edm. Person, Th. Bakster, John Wilkynson, Rob. Atkynson, Rob. Person, Rob. Wright, Ric. Hardynge, John Derike, Rob. Lile, John Watosn, John Elleson, jun., Th. Shawtforth, Rob. Tomson, Ric. Temple, John Dorrant, Geo. Hogeson, and Geo. Cooper were granted, by Henry VIII, (In year 28 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate upon a hill there adapted for signals (Tynemouth Southern Tower)
Licence to Ric. Gray, Wm. Elleson, Th. Bell, Th. Clerke, Rog. Dekeson, Edm. Person, Th. Bakster, John Wilkynson, Rob. Atkynson, Rob. Person, Rob. Wright, Ric. Hardynge, John Derike, Rob. Lile, John Watosn, John Elleson, jun., Th. Shawtforth, Rob. Tomson, Ric. Temple, John Dorrant, Geo. Hogeson, and Geo. Cooper, to found a fraternity or guild of sailors and other persons in honour of the Holy Trinity in the town of Newcastle-upon-Tyne with a master and four wardens, who with the brethren and sisters may make laws for the maintenance of the navigation of the port of Tynemouth, for the preservation of order among masters, pilots, governors of ships and mariners, and for the maintenance and continuance of the said port; to build and fortify two towers, viz., one on the north side of "le Shelys" {Shields} at the entry of the port of the said town, and another upon a hill there adapted for signals, metes, and bounds, for the safe and sure keeping of the said port, and to recieve 4d. from every foreign and 2d. from every English vessel coming to the port, for keeping the said towers perpetually lighted at night. Ampthill, 21 Sept. 28 Hen. VIII. Del. Westm., 5 Oct.—P.S. Pat. p. 1, m. 23. (LP Hen. VIII)
Granted at Ampthill. Grant by privy seal.
Comments
A complex licence to found a guild of sailors, collect dues and to build and fortify two towers which were also to be perpetually lighted at night.
Identifying, with any certainty, these men is difficult but presumably ship owners, merchants and other local businessmen and worthies. If fortified then the fortifications were presumably just to protect the towers and associated fuel stocks from local malice and theft rather than coastal defences. An expensive investment for which this token of royal approval would be a welcome addition although clearly the legal value is in the right to get the duties.
Original source is;
Gairdner, J. (ed), 1888, Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, of the Reign of Henry VIII Vol. 11 p. 376 No. 943.4 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'.)
