For their last outdoor visit of 2024, Nottinghamshire Environmental Association visited Leicester and The King Richard III Visitor Centre.
King Richard III is, of course, the ‘king in the car park’, so called because that is exactly where his remains were discovered.
The ground floor of The King Richard III Visitor Centre is devoted to an historical perspective of the life and times around Richard III.
Following his death on the Battlefield of Bosworth, the body of Richard disappeared for over 500 years! It was thought that Henry VII had probably ordered that Rischard’s body be buried quickly and quietly so that he would not remain a rallying point for the supporters of Richard. There were a number of rumours about the location over many centuries but Phillipa Langley, a member of the Ricardian Society which has grown up around the legend of Richard, was determined to establish where the body lay. After much detailed research she, and others working with her, came to the conclusion that it lay under a car park in the centre of Leicester. It took a further seven years before excavation started in that car park with assistance from the University of Leicester and Leicester City Council. In 2012 the excavation found remains of a skeleton, which was buried without a coffin or even a shroud and in a grave which was far too small for the body. All pointed to a hasty burial – just as was likely to have happened in order to get his body away from his supporters. The upper floor of the Visitor Centre contains the story of the detective work and the subsequent scientific proof of the identity of the bones as those of Richard III. The final exhibition is of the grave itself, now on the edge of the car park under which Richard was found. A detailed and fascinating visit taking in a lot of early English history.
Some members of the group also visited the tomb of Richard III, which is in Leicester Cathedral just 200 metres from the Visitor Centre
The afternoon featured up to date science with a visit to the National Space Centre. As well as international satellites and rockets, the Centre had a number of displays outlining the part played by British technology in developing a space launch programme. The group also watched and took part in an interactive planetarium display of our own galaxy, explaining black holes and dark matter.
The group’s next meeting will take place at Hallcroft Community Centre off Randall Way, Retford on Thursday 7th November. The subject is ‘The Beaver Project at the Idle Valley’. The cost is £3.50 non-members; £2.00 members. The final event of 2024 – on 5th December – is the Christmas Quiz.
For further information please contact: Adrian Blackburn – adrian.blackburn@sky.com or call / text on 07718 766873 or Paul Willcock – paul@paulwillcock.com or call / text on 07581 531595. New members are always very welcome.