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In 1474 May 28, Laurence, bishop of Durham was granted, by Edward IV, (In year 14 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Bryggecourt in the parish of Bateresey (Bridgecourt Manor, Battersea)

The wording of this licence is;

"Grant, of special grace, and in consideration of good service, to Laurence, bishop of Durham, and his assigns, that they may make walls and towers with stone, lime and sand about and in their mansion called Bryggecourt in the parish of Bateresey, co Surrey and so enclose the said mansion, and furnish the said walls and towers with turrets, battlements, crenellations and machicolations, and so hold the said mansion to him and his assigns without impediment from the king or his heirs or any other; and that the said bishop and his assigns may impark all their lands and woods in Bateresey and elsewhere in the said county and enclose them with palings and hedges and make a park or parks of them; and that they shall have free warren and free chace in all their lands and woods aforesaid."

Granted at Westminster Palace, by King.


Licence granted to Bishop of Durham for to build house with towers and impark at Bridgecourt in Battersea in 1474. Coulson (1995) list this as a, suburban town house. I consider it a ordinary country manor close to London.


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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