King Richard III was a regular visitor to Leicester and spent his last days here before his death at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. He was buried in the chapel of Greyfriars Monastery, but it is believed that some years later his bones were dug up and thrown into the River Soar.
Richard III 1452-1485
Richard III was born in October 1452, during the troubled reign of King Henry VI. His childhood was overshadowed by the Wars of the Roses - the white rose of York against the red rose of Lancaster. Both sides were descendants of Edward III, and were fighting to claim the throne.
Richard belonged to the York side of the family and his elder brother was crowned King Edward IV after a Yorkist victory in 1461. Richard became the Duke of Gloucester and Edward’s most loyal supporter.
Richard’s first recorded visit to Leicester was on the 10th May, 1464 at the age of eleven. He visited the city on various occasions as the Duke of Gloucester, staying at the castle on his journeys between the north and south of England.
Leicester Cathedral
Richard often stayed at Leicester Castle when visiting the city. All that is left now is the Castle Motte in Castle Gardens, and the Great Hall, which is in Castle Yard. Tours of the castle are on the first Saturday of every month (call 0116 299 4444 to pre book).
In 1483, King Edward IV died. His eldest son Edward (Richard’s nephew), was due to inherit the throne. However a dramatic period followed, during which time Edward and his brother were declared illegitimate due to his father’s previous marriage contract. Controversially, Richard was crowned king at Westminster Abbey on the 6th July.
Frieze at Leicester Cathedral
A memorial tablet in the nave of Leicester Cathedral is dedicated to Richard III. The cathedral is situated in Peacock Lane and is open daily from 9am–5pm, telephone 0116 262 5294 for more details.
Before becoming king, Richard had had a strong power base in the north, and his reliance on northerners during his reign increased resentment in the south. On 7th August 1485, Richard learnt that Henry Tudor had landed in Wales with an army of Lancastrian exiles, and intended to claim the throne.
Richard sent out letters ordering his northern supporters to join him in Nottingham and those from the south to meet him in Leicester.
At sunset on the 20th August, 1485, Richard arrived in Leicester with his army. He stayed overnight at the Blue Boar Inn, the site of which was on Highcross Street.
Today you can retrace the site of the Inn opposite the old Elizabethan Grammar school just along from the King Richard III pub! There is a story that the inn was originally called the White Boar, which was Richard’s emblem. After the battle the landlord hastily painted the sign blue – the Blue Boar was the emblem of the Earl of Oxford, Henry’s chief supporter.
The following morning, he rode out of the city over the old Bow Bridge on his way to fight in what became known as the Battle of Bosworth – the last battle of the Wars of the Roses. Legend has it that his spur hit a stone on the bridge as he crossed it, and an old wise woman among the crowd prophesised that his head would strike the same stone on the way back.
On August 22nd, after fighting bravely to defend his crown, Richard was killed in battle and Henry Tudor became King of England. Richard’s naked body was slung over a horse and brought back to Leicester, entering the city across Bow Bridge. His head allegedly struck the stone as the old woman had predicted.
Battle of Bosworth re-enactment
As you walk from the Holiday Inn down St Augustine Road, Bow Bridge is the second bridge you come to on the right hand side of the road. The old bridge was demolished in 1861 – the ironwork of the present Bow Bridge depicts the white rose of York, the Tudor rose, the White Boar emblems and Richard’s motto ‘Loyaulte me Lie’. A memorial stone is situated near to the bridge, mounted on the wall.
Richard’s body was displayed for two days in the church of St Mary of the Annunciation in Newarke, where De Montfort University’s Hawthorn Building now stands. He was eventually buried in the chapel of the Greyfriars Monastery the site of which was on New Street, off Friar Lane.
Some years later Henry VII contributed £10 towards a tomb but this was desecrated at the dissolution of the monasteries. It is said that Richard’s bones were dug up and thrown over Bow Bridge into the River Soar.
Commemorative plaque on Bow Bridge
The site of Greyfriars Monastery is now part of the New Street car park. As you walk into the car park from New Street, there is a small piece of grey stone wall on the right just behind the parking attendant’s hut. This is believed to be the only remaining part of the Monastery.
Richard III was 32 years old when he died – he had been king for two years. He was known to be a brilliant and courageous soldier, and a fair-minded administrator. However after his death, his reputation suffered at the hands of the Tudors, whose slender claim to the throne made it necessary to blacken Richard’s character.
Despite his short reign the erstwhile King is commemorated in Leicester - a bronze statue depicting Richard III can be found near to the Castle Gardens park entrance onto St Augustine Road.
The Tower of London
By far the most damning accusation against Richard concerns the fate of the Princes in the Tower, the most famous mystery in our history. After Richard took the crown from Edward V, he and his brother were locked in the Tower of London. When they died in suspicious circumstances it was Richard who stood accused of their murder for centuries. There are, however, other suspects in the case, and we shall probably never know which of the men involved was responsible for their deaths.
Richard was the last English king to die in battle, the last English king to ride into battle at the head of his army, and the Battle of Bosworth was the last charge of knights in full medieval armour. Richard was the last of the Plantagenets – Henry was the first of the Tudor dynasty. His death signalled the end of the medieval period; the beginning of the renaissance was dawning.
Bosworth Battlefield Visitor Centre is near Near Market Bosworth, half an hour's drive west of the city. You can visit this historic battlefield where Richard III lost his life in 1485 and take part in trail. The centre is open weekends in March and all week from April–Oct. Mon-Sat 11am-5pm, Sun 11am-6pm. November and December Sundays only 11am – 4pm. Adults £3, Concs £2.00. Parking £1. Call 01455 290 429 for more details.
This trail is available in print form (including a large print version) from Leicester Tourist Information Centre, Town Hall Square, Leicester. Tel: 0906 294 1113 for more details.
