Bala was given a grant of murage dated 1/6/1324.
This was in the form of:-
Wording
{From Lewis} Patent Roll, 2 Richard II., p. 2, m. 7.
De confirmacione pro burgensibus de Bala
Rex omnibus ad quos etc. salutem. Inspeximus cartam domini Edwardi nuper Regis Angliae proavi nostri in haec verba. ...
Nos volentes hominibus et burgensibus nostris Anglicis praedictae villae nostrae de Bala gratiam in hac parte facere specialem, concessimus eis et hac carta nostra confirmavimus pro nobis et heredibus nostris quod dicta villa nostra de Bala de cetero liber burgus sit et quod homines et burgenses nostri Anglici eiusdem villae in eadem habitantes et imposternum habitaturi et eorum hereded et successores sint liberi burgenses nostri, et quod ipsi burgum illum fossato et muro de petre et calce includere possint ...
Hiis testibus venerabilibus patribus Walteri archiepiscopc Cantuarensi tocius Angliae primate; Walter Exoniensi thesaurario nostro et Johanne Norwycensi, episcopis; Adomaro de Valencia comite Pembrociae. Edmundo comite Arundelli, Hogo{ne} le Despenser comite Wyntoniae, Hugone de Courtenay, Roberto de Monte Alto, Ricardo Damory senescallo hospicii nostri, et aliis. Datum per manum nostram apud Westmonasterium primo die Junii anno regni nostri decimo septimo. Nos autem donacionem et concessionem praedictam ratas habentes et grates eas pro nobis et heredibus nostris quantem in nobis est nunc burgensibus burgi praedicti et corum heredibus et successoribus burgensibus eiusdem burgi concedimus et confirmamus sicut carta praedicta rationabiliter testatur et prout eidem burgenses et homines burgi illius et corem antecessores libertatibus et immunitatibus praedictis a tempore confectionis cartae praedictae semper hactenus rationabiliter usi sunt et gavisi in cuius etc. Teste Rege apud Westmonasterium tercio die Junii.
pro quinque marcis solutis in hanaperio.
Granted by Edward II. (Regnal year 17). Granted by By K..
Primary Sources
Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1908,
Calendar of Charter Rolls Vol. 3 Edward I, Edward II 1300-1326 (HMSO) p. 467 (refers to Record of Caernarvon)
online copyMaxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1912,
Calendar of Charter Rolls Vol. 4 Edward III 1327-1341 (HMSO) p. 214
Ellis, H. (ed), 1838,
Registrum Vulgariter nuncupatum, 'The Record of Caernarvon' (Record Commission) p. 174
Lewis, E.A., 1912,
Medieval Boroughs of Snowdonia p. 283-87
online copy
Secondary Sources
Soulsby, Ian, 1983, The Towns of Medieval Wales (Phillimore; Chichester) p. 69-72
Comments
when Roger Mortimer laid out the borough it was undoubtedly his intention to defend it with a wall and ditch incorporation this existing fortification {the motte}. Indeed, the 1324 charter makes special provision for such work, but there is nothing to suggest that his instructions were ever carried out. (Soulsby)
Record created by Philip Davis. This record created 24/04/2009. Last updated on 05/01/2013. First published online 5/01/2013.
