In 1470, Christopher Conyers, knight was granted, by Bishop Lawrence Booth, (In year 13 of his reign) a Durham licence to crenellate Sokburn (Sockburn Castle)

"Has licence to enclose with a wall and fortify his manor of Sokburn."

After a period of restrictions on his actions, from the Nevilles, Bishop Booth, who had served as keeper of the Privy Seal under Henry VI, was, in 1470, free to exercise his power again and this licence may be seen as showing Booth's temporal power and the re-establishment of Bishop's relationship with the Conyers.

Original source is

• 1873, Report of the Deputy Keeper Public Records Vol35 p97

(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) p160
  King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p141n29
  Page, Wm (ed), 1914, VCH York, North Riding Vol1 p449n4 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=64784
  Hutchinson, Wm, 1785-94, The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham Vol2 p149
  Hutchinson, Wm, 1785-94, The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham Vol1 p359

Sir Christopher Conyers of Sockburn (c. 1422 - d. 13 Mar. 1487) m. Mary Eure (d. 16 Mar. 1470) (to be distinguished from Christopher Conyers (d. 1461) unknighted head of the Hornby branch of the family). The Conyers had held the manor for many generations and had long standing associations with the bishops of Durham (as hereditary constables of Durham castle, fore instance). The resulting building does not seem to have been particularly fortified despite the location, near Scotland, or the the ongoing War of the Roses.

Biographical source include;

• A. J. Pollard, ‘Booth , Laurence (c.1420–1480)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/2888, accessed 10 Feb 2008]

More details about licences to crenellate can be found here.

Please let me know if you see any errors, can add information or can otherwise help to improve this resource. Contact me