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List of Fortifications and Castles

  THE GATEHOUSE 

The comprehensive gazetteer of the medieval fortifications and castles of Cornwall

Binhamy

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Binamy; Binnany; Binnoway; Binomy; Biname; Biename; Stratton

In the civil parish of Bude Stratton.
In the historic county of Cornwall (Modern Authority of Cornwall, 1974 county of Cornwall).

Almost dry moat are remains of fortified manor house licensed 1335

This site has been described as Fortified Manor House

A high status fortified residence not capable of withstanding an army but able to resist an armed band. They are generally moated and have a gatehouse with loops and crenellations. They tend to be sited with much less consideration for tactical and strategic defence and with domestic considerations, such as ease of access, to the fore. The difference between a small castles and a fortified manor house is a subjective one and may well be an artificial division in that for contemporary medieval citizens it may not have existed. David King did not use this term and preferred the term Strong House, since not all fortified high status houses were manorial, but use of his term Strong House has not been widely adopted possible because it is widely used as a synonym for bastle. Such buildings did not require a licence to crenellate and having a licence to crenellate does not mean a building was certainly fortified. However, I have recorded all buildings issued a licence to crenellate under this group since they clearly were at least intended to be [re]constructed in a fortified style.

The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Certain.
Cropmarks/slight earthworks remains.

A Royal licence to crenellate was granted in 1335 Jan 30, Ranulphus de Blankmouster (Blank Monsly) was granted, by Edward III, (In year 9 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Biename (Binhamy)

The wording of this licence is;

"Licence for Runulph de Blankmonster to crenellate his dwelling-place (mansum) of Biename, co. Cornwall."

Granted at Roxburgh, by privy seal.

Original source is

• Calendar of Patent Rolls (1334-38) p75

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.)

Significant later source are;

• Emery, Anthony, 2006, Greater Medieval Houses Vol3 (Cambridge) p695
  King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p79n19
  Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol3 pt2 p410

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SS21920575

 

Modern Map from Good for landscape form and features	Modern Map from Good for general location
Air Photo from	1st edition OS Map from

Sources of information, references and further reading

• PastScape  

• Books

  • Higham, Robert A., 1999, 'Castles, Fortified Houses and Fortified Towns in the Middle Ages' in Kain, R. and Ravenhill, W., Historical Atlas of South-West England (University of Exeter Press) p136-43
    Salter, Mike, 1999, The Castles of Devon and Cornwall (Malvern) p18
    Spreadbury, I. D., 1984, Castles in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (Redruth)
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p76
    Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol3 pt2 p410

• Journal Articles

  • MacLauchlan, 1852, Royal Institute of Cornwall 34th report p20 and plate xxxii

• Primary (Medieval documents or transcriptions of such documents - This section is far from complete and the secondary sources should be consulted for full references.)

  • Calendar of Patent Rolls (1334-38) p75

   

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