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New Bosworth battle site revealed | New Bosworth battle site revealed |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The true site of one of the most decisive battles in English history has been revealed. | The true site of one of the most decisive battles in English history has been revealed. |
Bosworth, fought in 1485, which saw the death of Richard III, was believed to have taken place on Ambion Hill, near Sutton Cheney in Leicestershire. | Bosworth, fought in 1485, which saw the death of Richard III, was believed to have taken place on Ambion Hill, near Sutton Cheney in Leicestershire. |
But a study of original documents and archaeological survey of the area has now pinpointed a site in fields more than a mile to the south west. | |
A new trail will lead from the current visitor centre to the new location. | A new trail will lead from the current visitor centre to the new location. |
The battle ended decades of civil war, which is now known as the Wars of the Roses. | The battle ended decades of civil war, which is now known as the Wars of the Roses. |
The boar badge may indicate the site of Richard's last stand | |
The death of Richard ended the Plantagenet dynasty and ushered in the first Tudor king, Henry VII. | |
The traditional site has a flag at the crest of the hill, a stone to mark the spot where Richard fell and a recently renovated visitors' centre. | The traditional site has a flag at the crest of the hill, a stone to mark the spot where Richard fell and a recently renovated visitors' centre. |
A long-running debate over the true location of the battle prompted a £1m, four-year project, led by the Battlefields Trust, to be set up. | A long-running debate over the true location of the battle prompted a £1m, four-year project, led by the Battlefields Trust, to be set up. |
Evidence such as cannon balls - now the largest collection of that date in Europe - and pieces of armour have been used to confirm the site. | Evidence such as cannon balls - now the largest collection of that date in Europe - and pieces of armour have been used to confirm the site. |
Cannon balls | |
Of the most recent, and important finds made, was a gilded silver badge in the shape of a boar - Richard's personal emblem. | |
Experts believe this would have been given to one of the doomed king's closest companions and lost in the final stages of the battle. | |
Pete Riley, one of the team which surveyed the area, said: "The main part of this project was to identify where the battle was - and we have done that. | |
The battle ushered in the Tudor dynasty and ended a civil war | The battle ushered in the Tudor dynasty and ended a civil war |
"Now we have got to understand the evidence we have picked up." | |
The original announcement was made in October but the exact location was kept a secret until now to protect it from treasure hunters. | |
Researchers also believe they have identified the medieval marsh where Richard III was dragged from his horse and killed. | Researchers also believe they have identified the medieval marsh where Richard III was dragged from his horse and killed. |
Richard McKinder, operations manager for the site, said the visitors' centre will not have to move. | Richard McKinder, operations manager for the site, said the visitors' centre will not have to move. |
"A lot of American battlefields have had to move their interpretation centres because they are actually destroying what they are trying to interpret," he said. | "A lot of American battlefields have had to move their interpretation centres because they are actually destroying what they are trying to interpret," he said. |
"We are within walking distance of the battlefield, therefore they can use us as the main area for interpretation and then go and see the field itself." | |
Leicestershire County Council is now in negotiations with a number of landowners to gain full access to the area. | Leicestershire County Council is now in negotiations with a number of landowners to gain full access to the area. |