Text Box: Text Box: King Richard's Well, Bosworth Battlefield (Photo courtesy of Des Knock 2003) Text Box: Plaque on Bow Bridge (Photo courtesy of Des Knock 2003) Text Box:         Statue of King Richard III   The statue of King Richard III is located in Castle Gardens, which is in an area adjacent to the remains of Leicester Castle, close by the River Soar.  Sculpted by J.W. Butler in 1980, it is a bronze casting showing a long-haired Richard III in armour, bare-headed, with a sword in his right hand, and the crown raised in his left.  His right foot rests on the peak of a rocky promontory.  The promontory is rough hewn stone, the base immediately below of the same, with a pedestal of concrete.   On the statue base are found the following inscriptions:  RICHARD III / KING OF ENGLAND / 1483-1485 on metal plaque on right face of statue base:  BORN FOTHERINGHAY / 2 OCTOBER 1452 between these lines on raised green block:  A GOOD LAWMAKER FOR THE EASE AND / SOLACE OF THE COMMON PEOPLE on metal plaque on left face of statue base:  KILLED BOSWORTH / 22 AUGUST 1485 / BURIED IN LEICESTER on raised green block between 2nd and 3rd lines of above:  PITEOUSLY SLAIN FIGHTING MANFULLY / IN THE THICKEST PRESS OF HIS ENEMIES on metal plaque on rear face of statue base:  THIS STATUE BY JAMES BUTLER RA / IS A GIFT TO THE CITY OF LEICESTER / FROM MEMBERS OF THE RICHARD III SOCIETY / AND OTHERS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD / - / PATRON OF THE APPEAL FUND / HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF RUTLAND / - / UNVEILED 31 JULY 1980 BY / HRH PRINCESS ALICE / DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER / ON BEHALF OF / HRH THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER Unfortunately, due to the attention of vandals, the statue has been relocated closer to the West Bridge end of Castle Gardens, and the sword and crown are replacements, vandals having frequently stolen earlier casts during the time that the statue was in its original location.  Doubly tragic is the replacement of the sword with a small, almost dagger-like weapon which is not as it ought to be.   Text Box: Sites of Ricardian Interest Photos and commentary by Des Knock Text Box: The Bow Bridge   The bridge which now stands is a modern road bridge located close to or on the site of the original, of which there were apparently two, one of which was a narrow bridge with a distinct bow appearance.  The Grey Friars were also located near by, allegedly where Richard III’s remains were eventually interred. During the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII, these remains were possibly thrown into the river you can see. Text Box: King Richard’s Well, Bosworth Field   The well at which King Richard III drank before or during the battle, has a pyramid-shaped cairn and now forms part of the Bosworth Battlefield Trail.  Water was an essential element for armoured soldiers and doubly so for those wearing full harness, so its part in the drama is interesting. Text Box: Text Box:   Text Box: The text on the plaque reads:   “Upon this bridge [as tradition hath delivered] stood a stone of some height, against which King Richard, as he passed toward Bosworth, by chance struck his spur, and against the same stone, as he was brought back hanging by the horse side, his head was dashed and broken; as a wisewoman [forsooth] had foretold, who before Richard’s going to battle, being asked of his success, said that where his spur struck, his head should be broken.” Speed’s History of Great Britain Text Box: Current Bow Bridge, Leicester (Photo courtesy of Des Knock 2003)   Text Box: Text Box: Leicester Statue of Richard III (Photo courtesy of Des Knock 2003)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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