It's easy to think of medieval society as strictly hierarchical, but there was always give-and-take — and the story of Sir Thomas Tunstall demonstrates this perfectly. In 1402, he was granted a licence by the King to fortify his manor house, creating Thurland Castle, and to enclose 1,000 acres of land — something which would have enriched him greatly. No records survive, but we can safely assume that Sir Thomas succumbed to wounds sustained during what was a famous victory for the English troops. (Image credit: Country Life Image Archive)At the time, there was a suggestion (and indeed permission in place) to turn it into either a hotel or a nursing home. Musgrave House, within the grounds of Thurland Castle, is for sale through Finest — see more details.