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In 1284 Nov 24, Walter Hackelutel (Walter Hakeltel) was supposedly granted, by Edward I, (In year 13 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate castle in Elvayl Huchmenyt (Aberedw Castle)

The wording of this licence is;

"To all to whom, etc. Whereas Edmund de Mortuo Mari has granted by his charter to Walter Hackelutel all the lands in Elvayl Huchmenyt that belonged to Griffin ab Oweyn and that came to Edmund's hand as escheat, and Walter has commenced to build a castle there, to which the king has given his willing consent; the king grants that Walter may complete the castle thus begun and may hold it when so built without trouble from the king or his heirs."

Granted at Cardigan,

Although this document has been considered by some as a licence to crenellate the current opinion rejects this as a licence to crenellate.


"By 24 November 1284, King Edward I gave his consent for Walter Hackelutel to continue with the fortification of the castle he had begun in Wales. This was undoubtedly Aberedw. On 6 October 1285 Walter Hackelutel was further pardoned a debt of £57 owed to Jews against "his costs and expenses in newly erecting a house in the Welsh Marches and afterwards crenellating it by the king's license for the better security of those parts"." (Remfry)


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.)


Significant later source are;


More details about licences to crenellate can be found here.

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This record last updated on Wednesday, December 6, 2006

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