Source 2: Responsibilities for the repair and maintenance of the Castle, 1310

Here, the king ordered the exchequer to pay two petitioners owed money by Walter de Mouncy, Constable of Framlingham Castle. Walter had borrowed money from them to repair and provision [stock with food and equipment] Framlingham castle. He died before he could pay the money back. The document is valuable as it tells us how castles were managed and maintained.

Responsibilities for the repair and maintenance of the Castle, 1310 – Calendar of Close Rolls, Edward II, 1307-1313, Vol. I, p. 217, Membrane 2, June 17 1310 (catalogue reference: C54/127, m. 2)

Translation

To the treasurer and barons of the exchequer. Order to allow to Oliver de Redham and William Godewyn, in their accounts of the debts that William de Mouncy, lately deceased, owed to the exchequer, the sums that the said William de Mouncy expended by the king’s order in the time when he was constable of Framlingham castle, both in repairing the buildings of the same and in the provisioning of the same, for which he has not yet been allowed.

 

Simplified translation

The treasurer and barons of the exchequer are ordered to pay Oliver de Redham and William Godewyn what is owed to them by Wiliam de Mouncy. William Godewyn borrowed money from Oliver de Redham and William Godewyn when he was constable of Framlingham castle to repair castle buildings and provision the castle, which he did by order of the king.

 

« Return to Framlingham Castle

Question

  • Who ordered the repair and provisioning of Framlingham castle? Who was responsible for carrying out the order? Where did the money come from? And who ultimately paid for the work?