In 1337 July 23, Oliverus de Denham (Oliver Dinham) was granted, by Edward III, (In year 11 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Sampford Peverell (Sampford Peverell)

"Licence for Oliver de Deuham to crenellate the dwelling-place of his manor of (mansum manerii de) Sampford Peverell, co. Devon."

Granted at Westminster, by privy seal.

Licence to crenellate granted to Oliver Dinham in 1337 and 1339.
Was this licence more to do with asserting Oliver's claims to this inheritance over claim of his elder brother's son (John b. 1317/18) about to come of age? Confirmation obtained in 1339 when John had come of age.

Original source is

• Calendar of Patent Rolls (1334-38) p473

(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, 2006, Greater Medieval Houses Vol3 (Cambridge) p695
  Higham, R. A., 1988, 'Devon Castles: an annotated list' Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society Vol46 p146
  King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p124n36
  Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol3 pt2 p412

Oliver Dinham

Oliver Dinham was the younger son of Joce Dinham, the untitled elder son of Oliver, Lord Dinham. Not a courtier.

Biographical source include;

• Karen Jankulak, ‘Dinham family (per. c.1200–c.1500)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/54520, accessed 2 Dec 2007]
  

More details about licences to crenellate can be found here.

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