Ricardian Sites
Bosworth
It was at Bosworth Field, or Redemore Plain as it was known at the time, that Richard III joined battle with the forces of Henry Tudor on 22 August 1485 and it was there that he was to be “brutally slain”, as one account describes his end.
In the five hundred or so years since, there have been a number of proposed sites for the battle. These days, there are three in contention, each of which has its merits. However, it is the traditional site, about 20 miles west of the City of Leicester, and near to the village of Sutton Cheney that has been developed by Leicester County Council and which still seems to fit many of the requirements as described in contemporary accounts of the fight. It is also this site which, in 2005, was given a grant to undertake an extensive archaeological investigation.
The major features of the battlefield are Ambion Hill, held by Richard's Yorkist forces; the cairn over a well or spring where Richard may have taken a drink during the battle, and at nearby Shenton, the so-called death stone, erected to mark the site where, by tradition, Richard was pulled from his horse and killed. The battlefield is now privately owned farmland but a trail has been established along public footpaths and its many discreet displays guide visitors around the site, enabling them to appreciate the intricacies of the military manoeuvres.
Although the visitor centre, run by the Council, already had an excellent display area, it has being upgraded to make it more interactive and to include ‘living history’ displays, together with models of the combatants and a tableau of the battle, including a detailed description of the events leading up to it, and ending with a film show, where a re-enactment of the battle is shown.
The centre’s gift shop is one of the best. In addition to the usual souvenirs, it offers small toys for children and a comprehensive range of Ricardian related books and memorabilia.
The facilities include a restaurant, known as the Buttery and which provides a good range of food. Following a complete upgrade, the old ‘temporary’ building has been replaced, the new Buttery incorporating a timber frame taken from a 14th century tithe barn and donated to the Battlefield centre by Derbyshire County Council and the Derbyshire Archaeological Society.
To complete the facilities at the Centre, there is extensive car parking and other local attractions include the village of Sutton Cheney and the small but attractive town of Market Bosworth.
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The Battlefield site is bounded by the A5, A444, A447 and the B585, and is clearly signposted from all these roads in the vicinity of Market Bosworth. Access is easy from the M1, M6, M42 and M69 and all major roads in the Midlands. From Hinckley take the A47 north and turn left onto the A447 and follow signs for Sutton Cheney and then the battlefield. Opening times: Last entry to exhibition one hour before closing. Limited opening over the Christmas period. For prices for entry to exhibition, which includes discounts for families and for groups, visit the Bosworth Battlefield centre's own website at www.bosworthbattlefield.com Telephone: 01455 290429 |
Suggested
Further Reading
The Battle of Bosworth Michael Bennett, Stroud 1993
The Battlefields of England Alfred H Burne, London 1950
The Field of Redemore: The Battle of Bosworth, 1485 Peter Foss, Newtown
Lindford 1998
The Battle of Bosworth Christopher Gravett, Oxford 1999
Bosworth 1485: Psychology of a Battle, Michael K Jones, Stroud 2002