By T. H. Baker. 229 
“Anno 1245. Richard Earl of Cornwall sent one thousand pounds by the 
knights hospitalers, for the relief and assistance of travellers and pilgrims to the 
Holy Land; and at Christmas entertained at Wallingford the King (Henry III.), 
the Queen, and nobility. And April 22nd, the same year, the King granted to 
him the manor of Meere with all appurtenances, that he may there found a 
religious house of what order he pleased.” 
_ This was eight years before permission was granted to the same 
earl to build the castle, but there is no existing evidence as to what 
religious house he built. Sir R. C. Hoare mentions the site of the 
monastery of Sealys Aylesbury, and as this was within the ancient 
parish of Mere, and was part of the possessions of the Earl of 
Cornwall, it may have been there, but there is no tradition as to 
its situation. 
In 1253 permission was granted to Richard Earl of Cornwall to 
build a castle on a hill situated in his manor of Mere, and afterwards 
to fortify it; a grant of materials for this work was made from the 
forest of Blackmore. Also allowing him to hold it during his own 
life and entailing it upon his heirs male by Sanchia, his wife, but 
in failure of such issue the castle was to devolve again to the crown. 
His eldest son, Edmund, succeeded him in the earldom of Cornwall. 
He died without issue and this lordship reverted to the crown and 
was granted by Edward I. as dower to his second wife, Margaret 
of France. Edward II. bestowed the Harldom of Cornwall on his 
favourite, Piers Gaveston, who was beheaded in 1312; the manor 
of Mere was then seized by the King and remained in his hands 
till 13832, when Edward III. created his brother, John of Eltham, 
Earl of Cornwall, and granted to him the manor of Mere with all 
the other possessions of the Earldom of Cornwall. He died in 
1337 ; his property reverted to the crown; the Earldom of 
Cornwall was created a Duchy, and it was granted to Edward, 
Prince of Wales, eldest son of Edward III. From this period the 
manor of Mere with all its appurtenances descended with, and as 
part and parcel of, the Duchy of Cornwall. 
Tue CasTLeE. 
As we have shown before, this was built about 1253, and must 
have been a grand and conspicuous object. It consisted of six 
