In 1307 Aug 24, Willielmus de Dacre (William Dacre) was granted, by Edward II, (In year 1 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Dunmalloght (Dunmalloght Pele)

"Licence to William de Dacre to crenellate his dwelling-house (mansum suum) of Dunmalloght, co. Cumberland, in the Marches of Scotland."

Granted at Cumnock, by privy seal.

Iron Age Hillfort one possible site of tower/castle granted a licence to crenellate, to William Dacre, in 1307. Other possible site at NY467236 or also possibly Dacre. Pastcape record reads “A pele is recorded at Dunmalloght in 1317-18 when 10 men-at-arms and 10 hobelars were paid to guard it. Licence to crenellate had been granted in 1317. its precise location is unknown, but it is likely to be in the vicinity of Dunmallard Hill.” see also Dunwalloght. The licence is sometimes also attributed to Dacre Castle. The Lysons, in Magna Britania, suggest this was a duplicate of the licence for Drumburgh Castle, granted to Robert/Richard Brun, granted to Thomas (sic) Dacre, Baron of Burgh, as Lord paramount. One of three licences of this date given to lords in Cumberland shortly after Edward I death at Burgh-by-Sands on 7 July, this effectively marked the end of this Scottish campaign. Licence given as a reward and possibly as a preparation against a Scottish counter-campaign.

Original source is

• Calendar of Patent Rolls (1307-13) p11

(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;

• Emery, Anthony, 1996, Greater Medieval Houses Vol1 (Cambridge) p263
  King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p100n83, 84
  Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol3 pt2 p405
  Lyson, Daniel and Lyson, Samual, 1816, Magna Britannia Vol4 p26- http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=50680

William Dacre (1265-1318)

William Dacre (1265-1318/19), very limited biographical details. His grandfather William (d. c. 1258) was Sheriff of Cumberland then Yorkshire, Governor of Carlisle. His son Ranulph (d. 1339) 1st Lord of Dacre, Sheriff of Cumberland, Governor of Carlisle. (see Naworth licence of 1335)

More details about licences to crenellate can be found here.

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