GATEHOUSE
The comprehensive gazetteer and bibliography of the medieval castles, fortifications and palaces of England, Wales, the Islands.
 
 
Home
The listings
Other Info
Books
Links
Downloads
Contact
 
Print Page 
 
Next Record 
Previous Record 
Back to list 
In 1336 Sept 26, Walterus Heryng de Wynterbourn was granted, by Edward III, (In year 10 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Wynterbourn (Winterborne Herringston)
Exemption, for life, of Walter Heryng of Wynterbourne from being put on assizes, juries or recognisances, unless his oath be necessary according to the statute in that case provided; and licence for him to crenellate his dwelling-places of Langeton Heryng and Wynterbourne. By K. (CPR)

Walterus Heryng de Wynterbourn ... mansum ... Wynterbourn. (Turner and Parker)

Granted at Nottingham. Grant by King.

Comments

Joint with Langeton Heryng. Parker suggests Winterbourn Abbas in Dorset but actually is Winterborne Herringston near Weymouth.

The guts of this licence is the exemption from jury service, important for a man just called to parliament and about to serve on many commissions. The licence to decorating his houses with the symbols of new status, as knight of the shire, would be an additional reward and recognition for taking on these duties.

Original source is;

(In fact, the original source given is usually a transcription/translation of what are precious medieval documents not readily availably. It should be noted that these transcription/translations often date to the nineteenth or early twentieth centuries and that unwitting bias of transcribers may affect the translation. Care should also be taken to avoid giving modern meaning to the medieval use of certain stock words and terms. Licentia is best translated as 'freedom to' not 'permission'.)

Significant later sources are;

Walter Herring (<1306-1342)
Knight of the shire for Dorset in 1336. Seems also have had property in Stepney, London. A probate copy of his will, dated 1342, still survives, but little other biographical detail.

More information about licences to crenellate can be found here.

Please do inform Gatehouse if you see any errors, can add information or can otherwise help to improve this resource. Please contact Gatehouse.

Record created by Philip Davis. This record last updated on Sunday, October 4, 2015.


¤¤¤¤¤