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 1512 Nov 8, John Spencer was granted, by Henry VIII, (In year 4 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Olthorp (Althorp)
1494/28. John Spencer of Olthorp. Licence to impark lands in Olthorp and Wykehamond, Northt., with free warren, fishery, &c. in Olthorp, Brynketon Magna, and Wykehamond, and in Bodyngton Superior, Northt.; and licence to castellete the manors of Olthorp, Northt., and Wormeleighton, Warw. Westm., 8 Nov. 4 Hen. VIII. Del. Westm., 13 Nov. P.S. Pat. 4 Hen. VIII. p. 2, m. 2. {3524.} (LP Hen. VIII)

Granted at Westminster. Grant by privy seal.

Comments

Joint licence with Wormleighton.

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'.)

Sir John Spencer (c.1470-1522)
Sir John Spencer (c.1470-1522) of Snitterfield and Wormleighton.

The Spencers have been farmers since pre-Tudor times, coming to prominence in Warwickshire in the fifteenth century. John Spencer became feoffee of Wormleighton in 1469, and a tenant at Althorp in 1486. His nephew another John, through trade in livestock and commodities, then bought both properties outright, was knighted, and so lay the bedrock for the family's fortune. His descendants expanded the holdings through business dealings and marriage into the peerage. (Althorp Estate)

The original John Spencer (d. 1522) secured the lordship of Wormleighton from the Cope family in 1507 (Spencer, 1999, p. 9) Spencer daughter, Jane was second wife of the very wealthy Sir William Cope, who had obtained Wormleighton from Henry VII when he was keeper of the Privy Purse. There is relatively little biographical detail for John Spencer. However, because of the later importance of the family much geneological work has been done. This suggests that John Spencer did not hold any positions of note.
Although the Spencers now reside at Althorp, Wormleighton was their original caput and the larger house.

Biographical source include;

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.


¤¤¤¤¤