In 1308 March 24, Robertus de Holand (Robert Holand; Holland) was granted, by Edward II, (In year 1 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Holand (Up Holland)

"Licence to Robert de Holand to crenellate his dwelling-house (mansum suum) at Holand, co. Lancaster."

Granted at Westminster, by King, on the information of J. de Cherleton.

Licence to crenellate granted in 1308 to Robert Holand, may have resulted in a castle or other fortified house. Exact location lost.

Original source is

• Calendar of Patent Rolls (1307-13) p57

(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. Licentia is best translated as 'freedom to' not 'permission'.)

Significant later source are;

• Emery, Anthony, 1996, Greater Medieval Houses Vol1 (Cambridge) p263
  Farrer, Wm, and Brownbill, J. (eds), 1911, 'Townships: Upholland' VCH Lancashire Vol4 p91-7
  Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol3 pt2 p405

Holland, Sir Robert (c.1283–1328)

Robert was a close friend and chief agent of Thomas, earl of Lancaster.
Holland's linkage with the most powerful noble of his generation, and the scale of his consequent enrichment, made his career in some respects sui generis. In another way, however, it typified one of the main routes to social advancement in the middle ages: through service in the following of a great man. (Maddicott, 2004)
John Charlton, the King's Chamberlain, was to later have considerable dispute with Thomas, earl of Lancaster. Quite what his relationship with Robert Holland was I have not been able to establish although both men were soldiers in Scotland c. 1300.

Biographical source include;

• J. R. Maddicott, ‘Holland, Sir Robert (c.1283–1328)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/37562, accessed 20 Nov 2007]
  Maddicott, J.R., 1971 July, 'Thomas of Lancaster and Sir Robert Holland: A study in Noble Patronage' The English Historical Review Vol86 No340 p449-472 http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0013-8266%28197107%2986%3A340%3C449%3ATOLASR%3E2.0.CO%3B2-N
  J. F. A. Mason, ‘Charlton, John, first Lord Charlton of Powys (d. 1353)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/5165, accessed 13 Sept 2008]

More details about licences to crenellate can be found here.

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