Winchester was given a grant of murage dated 5/2/1378.
This was in the form of:-
Wording
Appointment, during pleasure, of the mayor and bailiffs of Winchester. where the walls, turrets, gates and dykes are so dilapidated and out of repair as to imperil the city if the French landed, as they recently did — to continue notwithstanding the opposition of some evil-disposed persons, to repair and re-construct the same, as they have fully intended to do, compelling by distress or otherwise all persons who have lands, tenements, rents, or even merchandise, within the liberty of the city, to contribute thereto, each according to his means, excepting only privileged men and weak poor beggars; with power to pull down and remove buildings adjacent to the wall or the city dyke, and trees and other nuisances, paying the owners both of the site and of the houses the true value of the same as appraised by six or four good men of the city. By pet. of P.
The like to the mayor and bailiffs of Salisbury, for the walling and fortifying of their city, with the like power. By pet. of P
Granted by Richard II. (Regnal year 1). Granted at Westminster. Granted by pet. in Parl..
Primary Sources
Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1895,
Calendar of Patent Rolls Richard II (1377-81) Vol. 1 p. 111
online copy
Secondary Sources
Page, Wm (ed), 1912, 'Winchester: Introduction',
VCH Hampshire Vol. 5 p. 1-9
online copy
Record created by Philip Davis. This record created 14/02/2009. Last updated on 05/01/2013. First published online 5/01/2013.
