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In 1365 Oct 24, Willielmus, Abbas de Quarrera et Conventus ejusdem loci was granted, by Edward III, (In year 39 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Fisshehous (Fishhouse, Wootton Creek and other places)

The wording of this licence is;

"Willielmus, Abbas de Quarrera et Conventus ejusdem loci in proprio ipsorum Abbatis et Conventus infra dictam Insulam tam in loco vocato Fisshehous super costeram maris situato quam alibi ubi eis melius expedire videbitur diversas placeas terrae tantas quantas et de quo procinctu eis placuerit muro de petra et calce includere, firmare et kernellare et castra vel fortalicia inde facere ... locum vocatum Fisshehous et diversas placeas terrae
Licence for William, abbot of Quarr, in the Isle of Wight, and the convent of the same place, in the lifetime of the said William, to enclose with a wall and crenellate as many plots of land and of such precinct as they please on their own soil in the island, as well in the place called "Fisshehous" on the coast as elsewhere where it shall be expedient, and make castles or fortalices of these."

Granted at Westminster, by privy seal.


The licence grant to the abbot of Quarr Abbey in 1365 specifically mentioned Fisshehous as a place to be fortified, along with other unnamed places. These fortifications called "castra vel fortalicia" castles and fortalices in the licence must, presumably, have been some form of early artillery coastal defence. Fishhouse was clearly one site for a fortalice, others may have been Gurnard, Quarr, Hamstead and Elmsworth although coastal erosion has probably destroyed any traces. On June 12 1366 the Calendar of Patent Rolls records fortalices are being constructed at Fisshehous and at the abbot's mill and elsewhere but that certain men are scheming to hinder the works and destroy those at the abbot's mill. The king grants special protection and the power to arrest contrariants.


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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