Sandwich was given a grant of murage dated 16/6/1475.
This was in the form of:-
Wording
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May 12. 1477. Westminster. 15 Edward IV
To the customers or collectors of customs and subsidies in the port of Sandwich for the time being. Order to suffer the mayor and barons of Sandwich to whom the king by letters patent dated 16 June, 15 Edward IV, gave this license, for the fortification of the above town, their factors, attornies or deputies, native or alien, in any one year during the king's pleasure, to ship by indentures forty sacks of wool, barded and clacked, or not barded and clacked, being the growth of the county of Kent, of their wools or of others, in carracks, galleys or other vessels, once or divers times as they please, in the aforesaid port, and carry the same to parts of Italy through the straits of Marrok, without any customs and subsidies or any dues payable, for the shipping and carriage of the said wools in any wise, and without impediment or charge of the king's officers or ministers, by indentures between them whereby the customers and collectors shall be discharged at the exchequer. Provided always that all and singular moneys which should pertain to the king in the absence of such concession, together with twenty pounds a year to be raised between the said mayor and barons should be devoted to the construction and repair of the walls and other fortifications of the town of Sandwich, and the building of an inner port under the supervision and advice of John Fogge and John Scotte knights, or others deputed by them: and further grant to the mayor and barons of the town, that if in any future year, in which this benefit is granted to them, by letters patent, they have not shipped fully forty sacks of wool, then they shall be permitted to add the arrears in a later year, without payment of further subsidies to the king.
Granted by Edward IV. (Regnal year 15).
Primary Sources
Ledward, K.H. (ed), 1954,
Calendar of Close Rolls, Edward IV, Edward V, Richard III: 1476-1485 p. 47-8
online copy
Secondary Sources
Turner, H.L., 1971, Town Defences in England and Wales (London) p. 165
Comments
This grant was replaced in in 1465 by exemption from the payment of various customs duties, a privilege which was renewed in 1477 (Turner)
The 1465 grant seems to have been renewed in 1475, although the patent letters mentioned are not in the Calendar of Patent Rolls.
Record created by Philip Davis. This record created 28/01/2009. Last updated on 30/04/2012. First published online 5/01/2013.
