Chichester was given a grant of murage dated 28/11/1377.
This was in the form of:-
Wording
Appointment, during pleasure, of the mayor and bailiffs of Chichester to repair their city ditch newly begun, 50 feet broad, and its walls, turrets and gates, compelling all persons, religions as well as secular, who have lands, rents or merchandise within the city or liberty thereof, to contribute according to their means: with power to pull down and remove houses and buildings adjacent, to the city wall, or where the ditch ought to be constructed, paying the owners of the buildings and site (fundi) the value of the same, according to the appraisement of six or four good and lawful men of the city, and with power also to remove trees and other nuisances. By pet. of Parl.
Granted by Richard II. (Regnal year 1). Granted at Westminster. Granted by pet. in Parl..
Details of the petition which resulted in this grant can be seen
at this link. 
Primary Sources
Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1895,
Calendar of Patent Rolls Richard II (1377-81) Vol. 1 p. 72
online copy
Secondary Sources
Turner, H.L., 1971,
Town Defences in England and Wales (London) p. 155
Salzman, L.F. (ed), 1935,
VCH Sussex Vol. 3 p. 72
online copyBlaauw, William Henry, 1861, ' Royal Licenses to Fortify Towns and Houses in Sussex'
Sussex Archaeological Collections Vol. 13 p. 113
online copy
Record created by Philip Davis. This record created 26/01/2009. Last updated on 05/01/2013. First published online 5/01/2013.
