In 1338 June 9, Abbas et Conventus de Bello (Abbot Alan of Kertling) was granted, by Edward III, (In year 12 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Bello (Battle Abbey)

"situm Abbatiae suae"

Granted at Lopham, by privy seal.

Abbey has substancial gatehouse with portcullis and murder holes of C14 date and precinct wall with possible wallwalk. Possibly fortified in response to French raids, peasant unrest or purely for status reasons. Licence to crenellate granted to Abbot Alan of Kertling in 1338.

Original source is

• Calendar of Patent Rolls (1338-40) p92

(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;

• Woodburn, Bill and Guy, Neil, 2005-6, 'Battle Abbey Gatehouse' Castle Studies Group Journal Vol 19 p59
  Coulson, C., 1982, 'Hierarchism in Conventual Crenellation' Medieval Archaeology Vol26 p94
  Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol3 pt2 p412

More details about licences to crenellate can be found here.

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