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Those familiar with the Shakespeare play Richard III may be aware that the king was killed in battle on the 22nd of August 1485 at Bosworth field in Leicestershire, close to the border with Warwickshire. The battle is regarded by some as being the last gasp of the middle ages and the beginning of the modern age. Certainly Richard was the last English King to die in battle.
There is a visitor centre near the spot today, in a set of converted farm buildings.
The view towards the town of Market Bosworth. Just visible in the right centre of the horizon is a church spire. The rest of the town, although only 2 miles away, is invisible from here as it lies in a valley.
The exit from the visitor centre, the buildings seem to be mostly 18th century.
King Richard's banner, showing a white boar and the white rose of York, on Ambion Hill.
The traditional site of Richard's camp the night before the battle is here, on top of Ambion Hill.
The hour scale on this giand sundial is marked with the events of the battle, which was more or less over by midday.
Footpath goes this way.
Shenton Station on the heritage railway known as "The Battlefield Line"
Twenty years ago there was nothing here apart from the small lamp building on the left. The station building came from Leicester and was demolished and painstakingly recontructed on this rebuilt platform. The work is so well done it is hard to tell it is not original!
Finger post by the station.
Looking back towards the station.
For a very long time study of accounts of the battle seemed to indicate that it took place at the foot of Ambion Hill, as the forces of the rebel Henry Tudor were known to have advanced against those of the king, who had been ordered to stand their ground.
A recent archaeological survey of the area however found a large number of bullets and cannon balls about one to two miles further south. A silver-gilt boar badge was also found close to a marsh in the area. It must have been worn by one of Richard's personal retinue and he is reported to have been killed close to a marsh.
The battlefield, then and now.
The footpath takes us along the edge of Ambion Wood.
In Ambion Wood.
Honeysuckle in Ambion Wood.
Heading back towards Ambion Hill, we come to Richard's Well.
This monument was built in 1813 over King Richard's Well, from which the king is said to have taken his last drink before the battle.
The well. The water does not look very appetising!
Back towards the visitor centre.
Hope you enjoy!
There is a visitor centre near the spot today, in a set of converted farm buildings.
The view towards the town of Market Bosworth. Just visible in the right centre of the horizon is a church spire. The rest of the town, although only 2 miles away, is invisible from here as it lies in a valley.
The exit from the visitor centre, the buildings seem to be mostly 18th century.
King Richard's banner, showing a white boar and the white rose of York, on Ambion Hill.
The traditional site of Richard's camp the night before the battle is here, on top of Ambion Hill.
The hour scale on this giand sundial is marked with the events of the battle, which was more or less over by midday.
Footpath goes this way.
Shenton Station on the heritage railway known as "The Battlefield Line"
Twenty years ago there was nothing here apart from the small lamp building on the left. The station building came from Leicester and was demolished and painstakingly recontructed on this rebuilt platform. The work is so well done it is hard to tell it is not original!
Finger post by the station.
Looking back towards the station.
For a very long time study of accounts of the battle seemed to indicate that it took place at the foot of Ambion Hill, as the forces of the rebel Henry Tudor were known to have advanced against those of the king, who had been ordered to stand their ground.
A recent archaeological survey of the area however found a large number of bullets and cannon balls about one to two miles further south. A silver-gilt boar badge was also found close to a marsh in the area. It must have been worn by one of Richard's personal retinue and he is reported to have been killed close to a marsh.
The battlefield, then and now.
The footpath takes us along the edge of Ambion Wood.
In Ambion Wood.
Honeysuckle in Ambion Wood.
Heading back towards Ambion Hill, we come to Richard's Well.
This monument was built in 1813 over King Richard's Well, from which the king is said to have taken his last drink before the battle.
The well. The water does not look very appetising!
Back towards the visitor centre.
Hope you enjoy!
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