Newcastle-upon-Tyne was given a grant of murage dated 10/6/1350.
This was in the form of:-
Wording
Whereas the king by letters patent lately granted to the mayor, bailiffs and good men of Newcastle-upon-Tyne murage for a term of years whereof five years are still to run, and he now learns that not only in the walling of the town but also in the bridge thereof there are very many defects to the grave peril of the town and the parts adjacent, especially in these times of war; for the speedy amendment of such defects he has granted that until the end of the said five years and then for ten years following they shall take, by the hands of persons nominated in their gildhall by common assent , customs on things for sale coming to their town, specified in the entry, and apply the same both to the walling of their town and also to the repair of the bridge. By K. & C.
Granted by Edward III. (Regnal year 24). Granted at Westminster. Granted by K. & C..
Primary Sources
Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1905,
Calendar of Patent Rolls Edward III (1348-50) Vol. 8 p. 484
online copy
Secondary Sources
Coulson, Charles, 2009, Murage Grants (Handwritten list and notes)
Turner, H.L., 1971, Town Defences in England and Wales (London) p. 36
Comments
Free election of collectors of murage - why should this help? Collective responsibility and perhaps relieves the enforcement but not to make a great difference. Having all the normal electorate consent should help to resolve or avoid conflict between the patriciate and populace, provided the franchise in Newcastle was wide enough. This, rather than the Crown accepting (prob.) men put forward by the élite as was (prob.) the normal way when collectors are named in the grant, will be the significance of this very exceptional provision (Coulson).
This grant was revoked after seven years and replaced by a grant for a further 10 years (see MG533)
Record created by Philip Davis. This record created 17/01/2009. Last updated on 03/05/2012. First published online 5/01/2013.
