The Gatehouse website record of a licence to crenellate for Baconsthorpe Castle granted on 1561 Nov 24

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In 1561 Nov 24, Christopher Heydon, knight, the queen's servant (Christopher Haydon) was granted, by Elizabeth I, (In year 4 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Baconsthorpe (Baconsthorpe Castle)

Licence for the service of Christopher Heydon, knight, the queen's servant, for him, his heirs and assigns to build houses, walls and towers in the manor of Baconsthorpe, co. Norfolk, and to embattle and crenellate the same. Also licence to enclose and impark 200 acres of land, 200 acres of meadow, 500 acres of pastures, 100 acres of wood, 100 acres of marsh and 300 acres of furze and heath in Baconsthorpe, Bodham and Hempstede, co. Norfolk; also grant of free warren in all the demense lands now belonging to Heydon in Baconsthorpe, Bodham and Hempstede, Salthous, Holte alias Holte Markett, Kellyng, Saxlyngham next Langham and Cley next the sea, co. Norfolk; no one to enter their parks or warrens to hunt without their leave under forfeiture to the crown of 10l.; so long as the lands be not within the bounds of a royal forest. Also grant of a yearly fair in the manor of Holte alias Holte Markett on the feast of St. Catherine the Virgin and the eve and morrow thereof. By Q. (CPR)

Comments

Baconsthorpe had been built by earlier Heydon's, who were a knightly Norfolk family and wealthy sheep farmers, noted for being opponents of the Paston family, so this licence much more to do with imparking.

Original source is;

1948, Calendar of Patent Rolls Elizabeth (1560-63) Vol. 2 p. 219

(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;

Cushion, B. and Davison, A., 2003, Earthworks of Norfolk (Dereham: East Anglian Archaeology 104) p. 164-5
Coulson, Charles, 1993 Aug, 'Specimens of Freedom to Crenellate by Licence' Fortress: The castles and fortifications quarterly Vol. 18 p. 3-15

Sir Christopher Heydon (c.1516-1579).

Sir Christopher Heydon (c.1516-1579). As far as Gatehouse can ascertain Christopher, who inherited his estates in 1550, was local gentry with no role in national government and quite what his service to the queen was is unclear. Was he, like his more famous grandson, an astrologer?

Biographical source include;

Bernard Capp, 2004, ‘Heydon, Sir Christopher (1561–1623)’ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press) 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.