In 1308 Oct 25, Abbas Sancti Augustini, Cantuar (Abbot Thomas de Fyndone) was granted, by Edward II, (In year 2 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Abbatiae Sancti Augustini, Cantuar (St Augustine's Abbey)

"quandam cameram ultra portam Abaci suam, quam de novo fieri faciunt, kernellare"

Granted at Westminster, by King, on the information of W. de Melton.

The abbey had a long standing dispute with the Archbishops of Canterbury.
The abbots were not summoned to parliament because they were mitred, but because they held their lands in capite per baroniam, and received their temporalities from the king; and of these, only such had this privilege as were especially, as through the king's favour, called thither by writ. (Hasted p158-77n29)
Perhaps the most curious incident in the history of the abbey is the story of Peter de Dene. He had been a distinguished ecclesiastical lawyer, and was at one time counsel to the abbey, to which he was a generous benefactor; but, getting into trouble in politics, in 1322 he sought admission there as a monk, and was received under a relaxed form of profession with many privileges, after bringing a present of silver and making his will in favour of the abbey. Eight years later he wished to leave it again, but the abbot refused to permit him; and he thereupon fled to Bishopsbourne, but a few days later was captured and brought back. He managed, however, to appeal to the pope, who in 1331 ordered the prior of the cathedral to inquire into the matter. Great resistance was offered to the prior, and it was not till he had entered the abbey church with a powerful force that he was able to get any conversation with Peter at all; and then from a distance, surrounded by monks, Peter declared himself perfectly contented. It seems certain that Peter must have been forcibly detained and impersonated by someone else, but nothing more could be done for him; and the abbot and monks received pardon from the king for what they had done. (VCH)

Original source is

• Calendar of Patent Rolls (1307-13) p144

(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;

• Coulson, Charles, 2007-8, 'On Crenellating, in Kent and Beyond - A Retrospection' The Castle Studies Group Journal Vol21 p189-201 esp p194
  Coulson, C., 1982, 'Hierarchism in Conventual Crenellation' Medieval Archaeology Vol26 p93
  'Houses of Benedictine monks: The abbey of St Augustine, Canterbury', A History of the County of Kent: Volume 2 (1926), pp. 126-133. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=38191. Date accessed: 07 April 2008.
  Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol3 pt2 p406
  'The abbey of St Augustine: History', The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent: Volume 12 (1801), pp. 158-177. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=63692 Date accessed: 07 April 2008

Abbot Thomas de Fyndone (d, 1310)

William de Melton - Lord Privy Seal to become Archbishop of York. No obvious link to the Abbey
Abbot Thomas de Fyndone, appointed 1283, died 1310.

Biographical source include;

• Rosalind Hill, ‘Melton, William (d. 1340)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/18538, accessed 13 Sept 2008]

More details about licences to crenellate can be found here.

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