Last weekend we had a family day out at Bosworth Battle Fields in Leicestershire. We had been once before about 20 years ago when D and E were little when there was a replica medieval street at the Battlefield Centre. This has now been replaced by an excellent exhibition.
I have been interested in Richard III since I was a teenager. In fact, long before the current Visitor Centre was built, I went in search of the battlefield. At the time staring at a marshy field I believed I had found it - perhaps I did!
Just a few facts about Richard III - the last Plantagenet King.
On 2nd October 1452 Richard was born at Fotheringay Castle, Northamptonshire, the youngest son of Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, and Cecily Neville.
In 1461 Richard's brother, Edward of York, acceded to the throne as Edward IV. Richard was made Duke of Gloucester.
On 12th July, 1472, Richard married Anne Neville, daughter of the Earl of Warwick (the "Kingmaker").
In 1476 Richard's only legitimate son was born - Edward of Middleham.
In 1483 Edward IV died suddenly and Richard was named as Lord Protector of young Edward V and his brother.
In June 1483 these two young princes were declared illegitimate and the coronation of Edward V cancelled. The two young princes were lodged for their safety in the Tower. They were never seen again and it is thought they were probably murdered by person(s) unknown. This in itself is a fascinating story well worth researching.
On 6th July, 1483, Richard was crowned King.
In April, 1484 Richard's son Edward dies.
In March, 1485 Richard's wife, Anne, dies.
On 22nd August,1485, Richard was killed at the Battle of Bosworth, and then hastily buried in Leicester. He was the last English King to die in battle.
On 30th October, 1485, Henry Tudor was crowned as Henry VII - founding the Tudor dynasty.
In 2012 Richard's remains were discovered in a car park in Leicester and on 26th March,2015, Richard III was re-buried in Leicester Cathedral.
Battle of Bosworth in 1485
Henry Tudor landed with a small army in South Wales in August 1485 and advanced to Shrewsbury picking up supporters as he travelled. Richard who was at Nottingham moved to meet him. On 22nd August Henry's smaller army and that of Richard III took part in a two hour battle at Bosworth. Richard fought courageously until the end but was slaughtered. His naked body was taken on horseback to Leicester and hastily buried at Greyfriars a few days later. At the site of the battle Lord Stanley placed the crown on Henry's head.
The Battle of Bosworth ended The War of the Roses which had been a series of Civil Wars for the English throne between 2 rival branches of the Royal House of Plantagenet i.e. the House of Lancaster (red rose symbol) and the House of York (white rose symbol). Henry Tudor, after claiming the throne and being crowned as Henry VII, married Elizabeth of York thus uniting the two Houses.
This is a really hasty brief summary so please feel free to correct me if I have got anything wrong!
The exhibition is very good and extremely informative. It is far more extensive than the photos below might suggest.
Effigy of the Fallen - many of the Knights killed at Bosworth were commemorated by effigies in their local churches. This is a photo of the replica of an effigy of Sir William Harcourt.
King Richard's Stone - The stone was originally erected in Shenton in 1975 where it was believed that Richard III had died during the battle. In 2009 after research and fieldwork the true site of the Battle was discovered around Mill and Fenton Lane. The stone has since been moved to the Visitor Centre for safety and to allow more people to see it.
The Earl Shilton Coffin
At one time it was believed that following the Dissolution of Greyfriars, a Franciscan Friary in Leicester where Richard had been buried in 1485, the body of Richard III was dug up and thrown in the River Soar. It was claimed that the stone coffin seen outside public houses in Leicester had been his. The coffin which had been used as a water trough for animals was eventually taken to be part of a water feature in the gardens of a large house in Earl Shilton.
In 1612 Christopher Wren was shown a stone pillar on the site of Greyfriars inscribed with the words "Here lies Richard III - some time King of England". The exciting results of the Greyfriars project revealed that he was still buried (and not in a stone coffin) beneath the church.
It is now believed the coffin could be Roman and as old as 2000 years as similar coffins were used to bury important people in Roman times. Although it should also be mentioned that in the medieval period monks used stone coffins to bury bishops and abbots. The coffin was donated to the Battlefield Centre in 2009.
Tool marks from the Romano-British stone mason shaping the coffin can be seen.
It was time to retire to the tearoom for
cake!
We then followed the 1.5 mile long battlefield trail.
Hawthorns were flowering well and
in this picture you can see a line of them in a distant hedgerow.
The views from Ambion Hill towards Market Bosworth were stunning.
We came across a railway station and talked about the possibility of returning in the future to catch a train to Market Bosworth and then to look around the town.
We continued the walk to a canal - you can I think walk along here to what is now believed, after extensive further research, to be the site of the actual battle. Sadly, we didn't have time on this occasion.
Richard's Well
A plaque states that "Near this spot on 22nd August, 1485, aged 32, King Richard fell fighting in defence of his realm against the usurper Henry Tudor"
The cairn was erected in 1813 by Dr Samuel Parr to mark the well from which it is believed King Richard drank during the battle. It is maintained by the Fellowship of the White Boar.
Back in the car park a rather classy car had been parked.
Part 2 will include a trip to the Battlefield Church in the nearby village of Sutton Cheney.
*D Photos taken by D with the Canon Bridge SX50
All other photos taken by me with the Panasonic bridge FX330
I am sure you had a great visit.
ReplyDeleteDavid Gascoigne - Thank you. I am not a lover of war but I do love history and battles were frequent in those days.
ReplyDeleteFascinating post thanks. Just looking at those weapons makes one realise how utterly terrifying it must have been to go into combat, and how brave (and brutalised) the average soldier was at the time. As a wargamer and re-enactor I have a keen interest in warfare, but, perhaps because of my hobbies, have a clear understanding of how ghastly it is and how it should be avoided at all costs.
ReplyDeleteThe British Countryside is looking particularly stunning at the moment isn't it? Perhaps the best it's looked for years, or is it just me?
cheers
Mike
I think it is around five years since we were last there as we visited the year after Richard's remains were found in Leicester. I remember visitng the old centre too, with the wooden seats outside, we first ate Bosworth Jumbles there. I love the walk around what used to be thought of as the battlefield and down to the station. Like you I've been fascinated with Richard III since my teenage years when a work colleague loaned me Josephine Tey's 'Daughter of Time' - we both joined the Society and went to some of the events - many years ago now. I can't quite believe that he was found during my lifetime and was glad his bones weren't cast into the River Soar. Glad you had a wonderful visit:)
ReplyDeleteSpringinsfeld -Thank you so much. It must have been terrifying especially when you think of them rounding up labourers from the fields etc. who must have had so little experience to fight in some battles. Then in some wars families took opposing sides which must have made for difficult times. It is interesting reading about it and seeing exhibitions but I agree with you warfare in real life should be avoided at all costs.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right the British countryside really is looking stunning at the moment and to me it looks the best for years too. Hawthorn and Cow Parsley have put on wonderful displays as well as buttercups and campion :)
Rosie - Thank you so much. It is such an interesting site to visit and in such beautiful countryside. The Bosworth Jumbles sound delicious - I must google for a recipe! I've not read that book - I will visit Amazon next and look for it! He was such a charismatic and interesting King. I would imagine the society events were great.
It was such a wonderful discovery when they excavated his burial place and the tv programmes on it all were so interesting. Have you seen his tomb at Leicester Cathedral? It is on my ever growing list of places to visit! :)
We have such history don't we, it's fascinating. A great post and it looks like a good place to explore :)
ReplyDeleteAs a previous visitor commented, those weapons are downright brutal indeed. We do have an amazing wealth of history, and thankfully it is being well preserved for future generations to come. Soon, I plan to visit and write about Pembroke Castle, which is the birthplace of Henry VII. First, I have to make time to do the visit! They have an annual resident pass for just £6.00 which I think is a bit of a bargain!
ReplyDeleteThe Jumbles recipe we found had the biscuits made in an 'S' shape, the ones we had at Bosworth had been made round and seemed to have different ingredients. We once made the 's' shaped ones and they were delicious. Yes, I have seen the tomb in Leicester Cathedral we visited in summer 2015, having visited the Richard III centre opposite the year before to see the first burial place. We also saw the dig at the car park in 2012 just before the remains they had found were identified. We tend to go to Leicester on or near my birthday as a treat, I like to return to my birthplace occasionally:)
ReplyDeletePam - Thanks so much. I agree we are so fortunate to live in a country that has so much history - I wish at times there were more hours in the day to spend on interests!
ReplyDeleteDeborah O'Brien - Thank you and I agree there are some wonderful places to visit. I really look forward to your post on Pembroke Castle - I hope you can find the time to go. The annual resident pass sounds a superb bargain!! :)
Rosie - Thank you. I made "Jumbles" years ago and they were in a "S" shape too - I have the recipe somewhere in an old cookery magazine (possibly Home and Freezer Digest or something similar!).
I must try and search out your post on Leicester Cathedral if you did one. It is not that far from here and a place I would love to visit. The visit to the dig must have been so interesting - so glad you were able to go. I entered the free ballot to attend the funeral of Richard III but never got anywhere!
I find battlefield trails interesting, they bring history to life.
ReplyDeleteYou have captured some wonderful photos during your walk :-)
CherryPie - Thank you. It was a really interesting visit and I am glad we returned. Hope to visit the area again too.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you had such a lovely day: what a lot you all packed into it, and I see Timothy enjoyed himself. I particularly like the Bosworth boar: what a find! It looks as though the display was excellent and I'm sure the cake was, too. Lovely photos, and always interesting when you say which camera has been used. I find Panasonic Lumix serves me well... David prefers Canon.
ReplyDeleteCaroline Gill - Thank you so much. Timothy had fun :) I liked the Bosworth Boar too - actually bought a pewter pin brooch of one :) I am really really pleased with the Panasonic Lumix - it is a super camera to use. I let my son exclusively use the Canon SX50 now. I do love my Olympus dslr (which I still need to send off for a small repair) but the problem is that unless you carry a bag full of lenses with you it limits you. The panasonic, like the Canon bridge, is great as you have macro, the standard lens for landscape and buildings, and that fantastic zoom facility all in the one lens! The Panasonic though is heavier than the Canon.
ReplyDelete