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In 1561 Nov 24, Christopher Heydon, knight, the queen's servant was granted, by Elizabeth I, (In year 4 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Baconsthorpe (Baconsthorpe Castle)

The wording of this licence is;

"Licence for the service of Christopher Heydon, knight, the queen's servant, for him, his heirs and assigns to build houses, walls and towers in the manor of Baconsthorpe, co. Norfolk, and to embattle and crenellate the same. Also licence to enclose and impark 200 acres of land, 200 acres of meadow, 500 acres of pastures, 100 acres of wood, 100 acres of marsh and 300 acres of furze and heath in Baconsthorpe, Bodham and Hempstede, co. Norfolk; also grant of free warren in all the demense lands now belonging to Heydon in Baconsthorpe, Bodham and Hempstede, Salthous, Holte alias Holte Markett, Kellyng, Saxlyngham next Langham and Cley next the sea, co. Norfolk; no one to enter their parks or warrens to hunt without their leave under forfeiture to the crown of 10l.; so long as the lands be not within the bounds of a royal forest. Also grant of a yearly fair in the manor of Holte alias Holte Markett on the feast of St. Catherine the Virgin and the eve and morrow thereof."

by Queen.


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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