Dover was given a grant of murage dated 14/11/1435.
This was in the form of:-
Wording
Grant to the mayor of Dover of murage for eight years, to be collected under the survey and control of the king's customer there, and the mayor shall account yearly for the money received before Geoffrey Louther, esquire, and John Stopyndon, clerk, or other persons appointed for this by the council. The wall and gates of the town have been damaged by the late frequent storms.
Granted by Henry VI. (Regnal year 14). Granted at Westminster.
Primary Sources
Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1907,
Calendar of Patent Rolls Henry VI (1429-36) Vol. 2 p. 496
online copy
Secondary Sources
Coulson, Charles, 2009, Murage Grants (Handwritten list and notes)
Comments
Gates on the seaward side, controlling mainly passenger trade. Important both to collect the murage and control passage (criminals, disease, etc.)
Coulson notes;
1. Utilitarianism without preface typical of a town unpretenious because of undoubted importance (c.f. Shrewsbury repeated statements about danger from king's enemies)
2. Dover's murage collection were usually supervised by the Constable of Dover Castle. This change is a double audit; the kings collector of tolls and the mayor.
Record created by Philip Davis. This record created 20/01/2009. Last updated on 03/05/2012. First published online 5/01/2013.
