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In 1477 May 28, John Pylkington, knight was granted, by Edward IV, (In year 17 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Turneham Hall (Thurnham Hall)

The wording of this licence is;

"Licence for John Pylkington, knight, and his heirs to build walls and towers around and crenellate his plot or manor within the parish of Wakefield, co. York, called 'Pylkyngton Hall,' newly built by him, and his other plots or manors of Bradeley, Elfletburgh and Turneham Hall, co. York."

Granted at Westminster, by privy seal.


Called Thurnham by Emery. I can find no reference to a Thurnham hall in Yorkshire. There is a Thurnham Hall in Lancashire, reasonably close to the Yorkshire border but this has never been in Yorkshire as far as I can tell and appears to have been a property of the Greys in 1477. Turnham Hall, nr Cliffe, is in Yorkshire but does not seem to have been a property of Pylkington (Held by the Manners family)


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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