Servats Tower, Bucklesbury

Has been described as a Possible Palace (Royal), and also as a Possible Fortified Town House

There are no visible remains

NameServats Tower, Bucklesbury
Alternative NamesQueen's Tower of Sernat; Sernes Tower in Bucklesburie; Sewtes; la Tour Servat; Cernets towre; Cernettes towre; Surnetistour; Sylvestre tour; Seruesse; Service;
Historic CountryLondon and Middlesex
Modern AuthorityCity and County of the City of London
1974 AuthorityGreater London
Civil ParishCity Of London

Licence to crenellate issued to Willielmus Servat, civis et mercator in 1305 quandam turellam ultra portam mansi sui in Civitate praedicta, petra et calce de novo construere et Kernellare (To build anew in stone and lime and to crenellate a tower over the gate of his house within the City). This stood on the north side of Bucklesbury, with the Walbroke as part of its east boundary. Stow called the building 'an ancient and strong tower of stone', it was demolished in late C16.

Sernes Tower in Bucklesberie, was sometimes the kinges house. Edward the third in the eighteenth yeare of his reigne, appoynted his Exchaunge of monyes therein to be kept, and in the 32. hee gaue the same Tower to his free Chappell of Saint Stephen at Westminster. (Stow)

Gatehouse Comments

The house was acquired by Queen Isabella in 1317 and housed the Great Wardrobe until 1333. However it would seem unlikely the house was used as a personal royal residence but just for the offices, residences and storehouses of the Wardrobe and its staff where the position close to London's markets would make it most useful.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTQ326810
Latitude51.5130500793457
Longitude-0.090209998190403
Eastings532600
Northings181000
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Renn, Derek., 2014, 'The other towers of London' in Hidden histories and records of antiquity; essays on Saxon and medieval London for John Clark, curator emeritus, Museum of London (London and Middlesex Archaeology Society Special Paper 17) p. 32-5
  • Emery, Anthony, 2006, Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales Vol. 3 Southern England (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) p. 439
  • Colvin, H. and Foister, S. (eds), 1996, The Panorama of London c. 1544 by Anthonis van den Wyngaerde (London Topographical Society 151) V28
  • Schofield, J., 1995, Medieval London Houses (Yale University Press) p. 169, No. 42
  • Lobel, M.D. (ed), 1989, The City of London from prehistoric times to c.1520 British Atlas of Historic Towns Vol. 3 (Oxford University Press) p. 93 online copy
  • Prockter, A., Taylor, R. and Fisher, J. (eds), 1979, The A to Z of Elizabethan London (London Topographical Society 122) X199
  • Harben, H.A., 1918, 'Sernes Tower' A Dictionary of London (London) p. 525 online transcription
  • Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol. 3 Part 2 p. 405 online copy

Antiquarian

  • Stype, John, 1720, A Survey of the Cities of London and Westminster Vol. 1 bk1 p. 63 online copy
  • Kingsford, C.L. (ed), 1908, A Survey of London, by John Stow: Reprinted from the text of 1603 Vol. 1 p. 44-71 online copy
  • Agas, c. 1558, map of London

Journals

  • Davis, Philip, 2010-11, 'Crenellated town houses in Medieval England' Castle Studies Group Journal Vol. 24 p. 270-91
  • Coulson, C., 1994, 'Freedom to Crenellate by Licence - An Historiographical Revision' Nottingham Medieval Studies Vol. 38 p. 119-20
  • Holmes, M., 1966, 'An recorded map of London' Archaeologia Vol. 100 p. 119 pl XLIXb
  • Honeybourne, M.B., 1965, 'The Reconstructed Map of London under Richard II' London Topographical Record Vol. 22 p. 67-8
  • Kingsford, C.L., 1920, 'Historical Notes on Medieval London Houses (Part 3)' London Topographical Record Vol. 12 p. 26-7

Primary Sources

  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1898, Calendar of Patent Rolls Edward I (1301-1307) Vol. 4 p. 379 online copy

Other

  • Keene, D., 1987, The Walbrook Study: a Summary Report (MS in library of Institute of Historical Research, University of London)