"Licence for Robert Bnrnel, bishop of Bath and Wells, chancellor, to crenellate his dwelling-house (mansum) of Acton Burnell"
Granted at Lincoln,
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;
Burnell, Robert (d. 1292), administrator and bishop of Bath and Wells... Immediately after Edward's coronation in September 1274 Burnell replaced the veteran Walter of Merton (d. 1277) as chancellor and became the leading figure of a new government. (Harding) Burnell had amassed 82 manors in 19 counties by his death.
When permission was given for the embattlement of the house in 1284, Edward I remarked on the affection that he had long observed the bishop of Bath and Wells to entertain ‘towards his native place of Acton Burnell, whence he derived his origin, and towards the people of those parts’ (Eyton, p132)
Biographical source include;
More details about licences to crenellate can be found here.
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