Greyfriars Friary -
Established in Leicester in the 12th century, the Friary was home to the Franciscan order, also known as Grey Friars after the colour of their habits. Following his death at the Battle of Bosworth, King Richard III’s body was taken by the Franciscan friars to be given a simple Christian burial in the choir of their church. All the remains visible of the Friary today is a small piece of grey stone wall which is situated in a private car park off New Street.
The Magazine Gateway
and The Newarke -
Built around 1410 the gateway would have one been the entrance to the religious precinct known at the Newarke and was called the Newarke Gateway. Today it is known as the Magazine Gateway in reference to its use during the English Civil War as a gunpowder and weapons store. After the defeat at the Battle of Bosworth, King Richard III’s corpse was brought back to Leicester and put on public display in the Newarke religious precinct. It ls likely that King Richard III’s body would have passed through this gateway on his final journey to Greyfriars, where he was buried.
Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary -
The Hawthorn Building of De Montfort University is built on the site of the former Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The church and associated college were founded by Henry, 4th Earl of Leicester and 1st Duke of Lancaster in 1353. Following his defeat at the Battle of Bosworth, King Richard III’s corpse was brought back to Leicester. It is traditionally suggested that his body was put on public display for three days in the precincts of the Church by victorious Henry Tudor, as indisputable proof that the King was dead. The church was demolished in 1548 as part of the Reformation. Two of its original arches still survive in the De Montfort University Heritage Centre.
Trinity Hospital -
As a visitor to Leicester Castle in the early 1480s, King Richard III would have been familiar with the activities of the neighbouring Newarke religious precinct, including its church and the Hospital of the Honour of God and the Glorious Virgin and All Saints. Founded in 1330 by Henry, 3rd Earl of Lancaster and Leicester, the hospital had been providing care for 150 years by the time Richard III became King. The hospital was rebuilt in 1776. The medieval stone chapel still survives and forms part of De Montfort University’s Trinity Building.
Turret Gateway -
The Turret Gateway, probably built in 1423, was one of
two entrances to the enclosed Newarke area. It separated
the Newarke religious precinct from Leicester Castle. As
a visitor to the castle, King Richard III may have used this
gateway to access the north entrance of the inner bailey.
It is possible that following his death at the Battle of
Bosworth, his body could have been brought into the
precinct through this gateway.
Leicester Castle -
It is known from a letter dated 18th August, 1483, that King
Richard III made his way to Leicester just weeks after being
crowned King of England; he signed, “from my castle of
Leicester.” The King would probably have visited the castle
on several occasions.
Today, a late 17th century brick entrance conceals the 12th
century structure that King Richard III would have been
familiar with.
The building now holds Leicester Castle Business School,
part of De Montfort University
St Mary De Castro -
St Mary de Castro means St Mary of the Castle, reflecting
the church’s origins as a place of worship built within the
fortified enclosure of Leicester Castle.
We know that the future King Henry VI was knighted here
as a young boy and it is thought that Geoffrey Chaucer,
author of the “Canterbury Tales” married his second wife
here in the 1360s.
It is likely that King Richard III would have heard Holy Mass
and worshipped here whenever visiting Leicester Castle.
Bow Bridge -
Built in 1863, the bridge replaced the original Bow Bridge
that existed in medieval times. When the bridge was
demolished in 1861, the new bridge was designed by the city
as a memorial to King Richard III. The ironwork of the new
bridge depicts the white rose of York, the Tudor rose, King
Richard III’s white boar emblem and his motto “Loyaulte
me Lie” (Loyalty Binds Me).
King Richard III crossed the old Bow Bridge when leaving
Leicester on his way to do battle at Bosworth and his
corpse was brought back by the same route following
his defeat. Plaques around the bridge recall the legends
associated with the king.
The Blue Boar Inn -
The Site of the Blue Boar Inn on Highcross Street is
now Leicester Central Travelodge. The commonly held
belief is that, on 20th August 1485, King Richard III
spent his final night in Leicester at the Blue Boar before
riding out towards Bosworth to engage the force of
Henry Tudor in battle.
Nothing remains of the inn today, but there are many
artworks that depict this building.
The Guildhall -
The Guildhall dates to medieval times and would
have been a building of importance during the time
of King Richard III. The Great Hall, built in 1390, was
a meeting place for the Guild of Corpus Christi, a
select group of influential businessmen and gentry.
By 1563, the building had become Leicester’s
Town Hall and the ground floor of the West Wing
became known as the Mayor’s Parlour. After
narrowly escaping demolition in 1876, the building
was completely restored and opened to the public
in 1926.
King Richard III Statue in
Cathedral Gardens -
Sitting between Leicester Cathedral and the King Richard III Visitor
Centre, lies Cathedral Gardens, a tranquil space in the heart of
the city and home to the King Richard III statue. The iconic bronze
statue by James Walter Butler was commissioned in 1980 by the
Richard III Society. It was first unveiled on 31 July 1980 by Princess
Alice, Duchess of Gloucester.
Another sculpture by Dallas Pierce entitled Towards Stillness is
located in the gardens in front of St Martins House. The sculpture
represents a timeline made of twelve vertical steel plates capturing
King Richard III in battle, the death of the king, the moving of his
mortal remains to Leicester, the burial in Greyfriars and finally the
rediscovery. The artwork is oriented towards Bosworth Battlefield.
King Richard III Visitor Centre -
The award-winning King Richard III Visitor Centre was
created around the car park where the king’s remains were
buried for over 500 years.
Using great storytelling, beautiful design and 21st century
technology, the centre tells the incredible story of the
king’s life and death and reveals one of the greatest
archaeological detective stories ever told.
Leicester Cathedral is closed until Autumn 2023 but The
Pall is on display at the King Richard III Visitor Centre and
Cathedral Guides offer a free talk to groups on the “King’s
Reinternment and Tomb” at the Visitor Centre.
Leicester Cathedral -
Leicester Cathedral sits upon a site that had been used for religious worship for over 900
years when the Normans began the construction of the original St Martin’s church. During
the Victorian period St Martin’s Church was magnificently restored and a 220-foot spire
was added. It was hallowed in 1927 when the Diocese of Leicester was re-established.
Adjacent to the altar lies the ambulatory, a space created in 2014 to house the tomb of King
Richard III below which the mortal remains rest. The tomb is carved from Kilkenny Limestone
and Swaledale fossil stone from North Yorkshire.
St Katharine’s Chapel houses The Redemption Windows designed by Thomas Deny, installed
in April 2016 showing people, places and themes relating to the life and death of King
Richard III.
Leicester Cathedral is currently closed until Autumn 2023 during the development
of the Leicester Cathedral Revealed project. The Pall is on display at the King Richard III
Visitor Centre.
to add an item to your Itinerary basket.
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