In 1441 Feb 5, Roger Fenys (Roger Fiennes) was granted, by Henry VI, (In year 19 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Hurst Monceux (Herstmonceux Castle)
Grant, of special grace, to Roger Fenys, knight, that he may enclose, crenellate, and furnish with towers and battlements his manor of Hurst Monceux, co. Sussex, and so hold it to him and his heirs, notwithstanding any statue, act or ordinance to the contrary; and that he may enclose 600 acres of his land adjoining his park there with a paling and dike and hold the park so enlarged to him and his heirs. (CChR)
The King to Archbishops, Bishops, &c.,to whom, &c., greeting–Know that of our special grace we have grunted and given license on behalf of ourselves and our heirs, as much as in us lies, to our beloved aud faithful Knight, Roger Fenys, that he may with walls and lime, enclose, krenellate, entower and embattle (turrellare et batellare), his manor of Hurst Mounceux, in the County of Sussex, and that he may hold the aforesaid manor so enclosed, krenellated, entowered, and embattled, for himself and his heirs for ever, without impeachment (impetitione) from ourselves, or our heirs, or our other officers or heirs whosoever. Given by our hand, at Westminister, on the 5th day of February,"— Chart. 1 to 20 Hen. VI. 19, No. 21). (Blaauw)
Granted at Westminster. Grant by privy seal and of the said date etc. {by authority of parliament}.
Comments
Sibling rivalry may be the motivation both for the magnificent martial house and the licence, although Roger was at the peak of a very successful political career, extremely wealthy and quite financially capable of building a magnificent new house in fine new brick and old martial style.
Original source is;
Lyte, H.C. Maxwell (ed), 1927, Calendar of Charter Rolls Vol. 6 p. 13-14
(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;
Emery, Anthony, 2006, Greater Medieval Houses Vol. 3 (Cambridge) p. 440 Woodburn, Bill and Guy, Neil, 2005-6, 'Herstmonceux' Castle Studies Group Journal Vol 19 p. 61 King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 478n26 Blaauw, William Henry, 1861, ' Royal Licenses to Fortify Towns and Houses in Sussex' Sussex Archaeological Collections Vol. 13 p. 115 online copy
Sir Roger Fiennes (1384 -1449)
Sir Roger Fiennes (1384 -1449) Sheriff of Sussex and Surrey, treasurer of the Household of Henry VI, fought at Agincourt. His younger brother James Fiennes had built Knole (Parts of this building survive behind the splendid of Archbishop Thomas Bourchier) with spoils from his service in France and was making his way up the government eventually to become Treasurer of England and to be ennobled as Baron Saye and Sele in 1447.
Biographical source include;
Joseph A. Nigota, Sept 2004, ‘Fiennes, James, first Baron Saye and Sele (c.1390–1450)’ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press) online edn, Jan 2008 online copy (subscription may be needed)
More information about licences to crenellate can be found here.
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Record created by Philip Davis. This record last updated on Sunday, October 4, 2015.
