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In 1374 Feb 3, Johanna quae fuit uxor Willielmi de Sancto Quintino was granted, by Edward III, (In year 48 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Harpham (Church of St John of Beverley, Harpham)

The wording of this licence is;

"Licence for Joan, late the wife of William de Sancto Quintmo, to crenellate a belfry which she purposes to make in the churchyard of the chapel of Harpham. (quoddam campanile quod ipsa in Cimiterio Capellae de Harpham facere proponit)"

Granted at Westminster, by For half a mark paid in the hanaper.


A licence to crenellate a belfry that Joan propsed to build in the churchyard of the chapel of Harpham was obtained in 1374, for 1/2 mark (6s 8d) but although this presumable resulted in the west tower this is not a defensive structure. Part of a manorial complex of the chief seat of one branch of St Quentin family. Coulson (1994) calls this a memorial by Joan to her husband. This is, perhaps, the most extreme example of a licence to crenellate being an expression of noble status, rather than an permit to build a fortification, but it is not an abnormality.


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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