1. Richard III and Leicester Heritage Badge
Charlotte Barratt
Richard III Outreach Officer
University of Leicester
Scouting Association Heritage Badge
Richard III & Greyfriars Project
Complete a study of an aspect of national or local history or of family heritage.
Display, exhibit or present the results in a library, to a group of Scouts or local interest group.
The whole session is for 1 hour 30 minutes.

2. What do you know about Richard III?
What do you know about Richard III? Who was Richard III?
Key facts
Richard was born in October 1452 in Fotheringhay in Northamptonshire.
His family were part of the House of York. They were fighting another family to gain control of the throne of England and Wales. The other family were called the House of Lancaster. Richard’s father was Richard of York (the Duke of York, from the Richard of York gave battle in vain, not the Grand old Duke of York). The battles began because the current king of England, Henry VI, was taken ill and Richard of York was nominated to rule while the king was unwell. Henry VI also didn’t have any children at the beginning of the wars. The House of Lancaster didn’t like this and battles were fought over who should be next in line to the throne and who should rule England when the king was unwell. Many of the people involved in the Wars of the Roses were cousins.
As he was growing up his family won and lost battles. When they lost battles he had to travel to Europe to stay safe, so he spent some time as a child in the Netherlands and Belgium. When his family won he lived in London and travelled with his family around the country. He was eventually sent to a place called Middleham in Yorkshire to learn how to fight and act like a knight.
When he was old enough he fought in the Wars of the Roses for his brother, who eventually became Edward IV. Up until his brother died he was loyal to him. When Edward IV died, Richard was named as Lord Protector of England and would rule on behalf of the 12 year old Edward V. Something made him change his mind, and he declared himself Richard III on 26th June 1483.
This discussion will help to find out what the participants already know about Richard III and the Wars of the Roses. It can also be used to make sure all participants begin with roughly the same amount of information.

3. Why is Richard III associated with Leicester?
Leicester is in the middle of the country. To travel to the North from London the road comes through Leicester. Richard III visited Leicester more than once and had planned to hold a parliament here. What did Leicester look like in the 1480s…
Why Richard III and Leicester? (5 minutes)
Key facts
Leicester lies in the middle of England and is on the cross roads of a number of roman roads. It has been of some importance because of this for centuries. The lands around Leicester often changed hands during conflicts, including when the Vikings invaded and during the Wars of the Roses. The Newarke was a Lancastrian stronghold and the castle was functioning up until 1480s, when it was thought to have fallen into disrepair. Richard III wrote a letter from Leicester Castle once, but stayed at the Blue Boar Inn in 1485.
Richard III even proposed to hold a parliament in Leicester as it was a central point for the north and south to meet, but this was put off due to a rebellious uprising.
Cardinal Wolsey stayed in Leicester on his trips around the country and eventually died and is buried at Leicester Abbey (Abbey Park).
Leicester was also attacked during the Civil War in 1645 as it was a Parliamentarian stronghold.
This section will put the topic in context. Why was Richard III in Leicester, why was Leicester important and what role did it play in the Wars of the Roses.

4. What happened in 1485? Richard III was King of England.
Henry Tudor, a distant cousin of Richard III had been waiting in France for a good time to sail to England and fight to become king.
Henry Tudor landed in Pembroke in Wales with an army.
Richard III had heard about this and was waiting in Nottingham to see where Henry Tudor would go.
What happened in 1485? (5 minutes)
Key Facts
Richard III had gone to Nottingham as he had heard that Henry Tudor was planning to invade England and try and take the crown form him. He placed himself in Nottingham so he could easily move to meet Henry wherever he decided to march. He could also call his allies in the North and South together more quickly from the Midlands.
When Richard heard that Henry Tudor had landed in Pembroke in Wales, he sent out the orders to his armies to meet him near Leicester. All the roads led to Bosworth. On his way from Nottingham Richard stayed in Leicester at the Blue Boar Inn, before riding out to his camp possibly on Ambion Hill near Bosworth Field.
Even though he had a larger army, Richard was betrayed by one of his loyal lords and was killed during an attempt to take out Henry Tudor. His body was bought back to Leicester, so that the people who saw him last could confirm it was him and that he was dead. He was on show in the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Newarke (Lancastrian stronghold). A few days later he was buried in the Church of the Grey Friars.
527 years later a search for his remains began.
Why did Richard III come to Leicester in 1485, why did the battle happen at Bosworth Field?

5. This is what happened… After Foard & Curry 2013
Richard III travelled to Leicester from Nottingham on 20th August 1485 to meet up with the rest of his army to travel to Bosworth Field. He stayed at the Blue Boar Inn the night before he travelled.
After Foard & Curry 2013

6. 20 August, 1485
Richard III was in Nottingham when he learned of Henry Tudor’s rebellion.
He chose Leicester as the rallying point for the Royal army, arriving himself on 20 August 1485.
CLICK
He would have ridden into Leicester from the north, passing through the North Gate and riding along what was then the High Street (today Highcross Street).
He took up residence at the Blue Boar Inn for the night.
Why the Blue Boar Inn and not Leicester Castle? It is probable that the castle was not big enough for his retinue and may not have been prepared for his sudden arrival. The Blue Boar Inn on the other hand was a sizable coaching inn which could easily cater for all his needs.

7. The Battle of Bosworth
Even though he had a larger army, Richard was betrayed by one of his loyal lords and was killed during an attempt to take out Henry Tudor. His body was bought back to Leicester, so that the people who saw him last could confirm it was him and that he was dead. He was on show in the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Newarke (Lancastrian stronghold). A few days later he was buried in the Church of the Grey Friars.

8. Following the battle, Richard’s body was bought back to Leicester.
He was placed on show in the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Newarke.
He was then buried in the Church of the Greyfriars.
Henry VII (Tudor) paid for an alabaster slab to be placed on the tomb.
Henry VIII had the Church pulled down in 1538.

9. In 2012, an archaeological dig began to find Richard III
First, we needed to find out where the Greyfriars Church used to be.
Using map regression analysis we can find this out.
Luckily, there were some clues to help.
Why did the dig begin in 2012? (5 minutes)
Key Facts
Phillipa Langley and John Ashdown-Hill of the Richard III Society had been researching the final resting place of Richard III for some years. They decided to approach Leicester City Council and the University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS) to see if they could dig up where they believed Richard III to be buried. Everyone agreed and a dig began in August 2012.
Before they could begin they had to work out roughly where they thought the Church of the Grey Friars was before they could begin digging. This would take some research and what ULAS call a desk based study.
Let’s look at the maps (30 minutes)
By looking at the similarities and differences on different historic maps we can explore how Leicester has changed over the last four hundred years. This technique is called Map Regression Analysis.
How is map regression analysis done? The best thing to do is to start with the most recent map, such as the modern Ordnance Survey map, and gradually work back through time, comparing the historic maps.
Map regression can be made simpler if all the maps have been reduced or enlarged to the same scale. This means that we can then overlay the maps.
A good starting point is to find a number of things which have not changed. This provides a framework from which to start locating other features and comparing maps.

10. Map Regression Analysis
This is our scenario: King Richard III was buried in the church of the Franciscan Friary of Grey Friars in Leicester in Fifty-three years later the church was demolished. Then, over the next 475 years Leicester changed. New houses, shops, schools, offices and factories were built; some of these were then knocked down and replaced by different buildings; new streets were built; some old streets disappeared; street names changed and all evidence of the church was lost; or was it?
In 2012, archaeologists from the University of Leicester used a series of historic maps of Leicester to narrow down their search for Richard III's last known resting place to a single car park in the centre of the city. To do this, they used Map Regression Analysis.

11. Ordinance Survey Map 2004
Even today, there are clues to the location of the friary on modern maps of Leicester. What clues to the friary's location can you find on the modern Ordnance Survey map? (Students should look at the street names; look for Friar Lane and Grey Friars). Using the 2004 and 1955 maps. There is note on the 1955 map that says Franciscan Friary. Is this a clue? Clock tower, Market Place and Town Hall are all the same.

12. Ordinance Survey Map 1955
Next let’s look at the 1955 and 1888 maps and look for differences. Look out for the name of the Cathedral changing to St Martin’s, it only became the cathedral in The Guildhall is called the Old Town Hall. There are trees mapped on the car park near where it said Franciscan Friary on the 1955 map.

13. Ordinance Survey Map 1885
Next let’s look at the 1955 and 1885 maps and look for differences. Look out for the name of the Cathedral changing to St Martin’s, it only became the cathedral in The Guildhall is called the Old Town Hall. There are trees mapped on the car park near where it said Franciscan Friary on the 1955 map.

14. Fowler’s Map 1828
Then again at the map from 1828 and It is not quite as detailed, and only covers a smaller area.
There are fewer buildings in the each block. Grey Friars does not exist on the 1828 map. It was built in 1871.
The Town Hall is not there in 1828, this was finished in 1876.

15. Robert’s Map 1741 Finally, the map from 1741 and 1828.
New Street is gone, Gray Friars is listed.
Some of the road names are still the same. Identify the road names. Are there any road names that you are surprised are the same from 1741?

16. Place names can give us a clue
Some place names have stayed the same since Medieval times, others have changed. New streets have also been built.
Working out where the Church of the Grey Friars was (5 minutes discussion activity)
Using place names and clues to work out where the church might be
See leader’s version of the maps being used.

17. So what changed in Leicester?
Leicester was defined by the Roman walls around the original town. (approximately 50AD-400AD)
Medieval Leicester also used these walls.
In the 1870s, Leicester Town Hall and the Clock Tower were built.
In the 1970s, the Haymarket Shopping Centre was built.
In 1990s, the Shires Shopping Centre was built, and then expanded into the Highcross in 2008.

18. Medieval Leicester, c.1450 (artwork by Mike Codd)
Leicester in about 1450
Medieval Leicester, c.1450 (artwork by Mike Codd)

19. Medieval Leicester, c.1450 (artwork by Mike Codd)
The Newarke
Newarke Gate
Mary de Castro
Leicester Castle
Bow Bridge
Austin Friars
Grey Friars
Guildhall
St Nicholas’
St Martin’s
Saturday Market
Blue Boar Inn
Black Friars
St Peter’s
St John’s Hospital
All Saints’
Place names to look for are:
Greyfriars Friar Lane Bow Bridge Tudor Road Gallowtree Gate Southgates Church Gate Humberstone Gate Belgrave Gate
Orange sites still survive today
Red sites no longer exist
St Michael’s
St Margaret’s
Medieval Leicester, c.1450 (artwork by Mike Codd)

20. Line of medieval town wall
Leicester in 2005, looking south-west (before the Highcross Leicester development if anyone asks)
CLICK
Although it no longer survives, the medieval town wall can still be traced today in the street layout.
We’ve been fortunate over the last 30 years that Richard Buckley and ULAS has been able to excavate large areas of the historic town but…
The project provided a unique opportunity to excavated in Leicester’s historic south-east quarter, an area doesn’t often get explore because of its protected heritage.
It also gave us an opportunity to learn something about an important medieval site, Greyfriars, which archaeologically and historically we know very little about.

21. De Montfort University
Magazine Gateway
Leicester Castle
Bow Bridge
St Nicholas Circle
Grey Friars
Jewry Wall
Market
Blue Boar Inn
Clock Tower
Highcross Leicester Shopping Centre
This is an archaeological reconstruction of what we think medieval Leicester would have looked like in the mid 14th century, looking south-west.
It is based on archaeological excavations over the last 80 years.
Point out the Castle, The Newarke, Black Friars, Austin Friars etc.
CLICK
The red line represents the route of Vaughan Way
A number of modern landmarks to orientate the audience
The three sites commonly associated with Richard III:
Blue Boar Inn where he spent a night before the battle of Bosworth
Bow Bridge over which he rode to Bosworth (legend that his spur struck a stone on the bridge as he left and it was prophesised that his head would strike the same stone on the way back). Also the bridge of which his body was supposedly thrown during the dissolution.
Grey Friars where he was buried
St Margaret’s Bus Station
Medieval Leicester, c.1450 (artwork by Mike Codd)