In 1531 Jan 22, Sir William Paulet, master of the King's wards was granted, by Henry VIII, (In year 22 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Basyng (Basing House)

"Licence to build walls and towers within and around and to fortify the manor of Basyng, and to impark 300 acres of land and 20 acres of wood at and about the same manor."

Granted at York Place, by privy seal.

Original source is

• Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, of the Reign of Henry VIII Vol5 p37 No80.36

(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;

• King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p197n3

More details about licences to crenellate can be found here.

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