On Monday 4th February, at a press conference at Leicester University - it was revealed that the body found in Greyfriar's, was King Richard III.
A subject worthy of a separate thread and a suitable focal point of discussion about Richard III; as well as the impact on the immediate area surrounding his burial site.
Recently the Mayor purchased the former Alderman Newton School building, which looks over the site, where the skeleton was found.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/leicester_photos/8015408276/
It is supposed that the intention is to house a museum dedicated to Richard III. The building is over the road from Leicester Cathedral, which is going to be the re-burial site for Richard.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13386269@N03/2961137926/
Other site across the city are also strongly associated with the famous monarch...and I've also included some details about forthcoming exhibitions and media broadcasts.
Bow Bridge
Bow Bridge was the site where Richard left Leicester on that fateful day in 1485 and it is the location upon which he returned to the city as a corpse. A local soothsayer foretold, the night before the Battle of Bosworth,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25797459@N06/3902927314/
If the skeleton turns out to be Richard III, then it puts to rest the claim that his body had been dug up at the Dissolution and thrown in the river at Bow Bridge. It seems that John Speede had come up with that elaborate story, after mistakingly searching the Blackfriar's site for a memorial and burial place - rather than the Greyfriar's. Having found nothing, he came up with the desecration story and it stuck for centuries.
Blue Boar Inn
This was the hotel were Richard III spent his final night. Sadly the building, in usual Leicester planning foresight was demolished in 1836. Thankfully Joseph Goddard drew detailed sketches and made accurate measurements, so that Leicester University have been able to re-create what the building looked like.
http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/press/...9s-last-2018resting-place2019-before-bosworth
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25797459@N06/8016293093/
Guildhall
An exhibition at the Leicester Guildhall, focused entirely on the search for Richard and all the findings, is to start on 8th February 2012 and has clearly been timed to coincide with an influx of interested visitors.
http://www.visitleicester.info/thin...iii/richard-iii-leicesters-search-for-a-king/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnmhague/8413776638/
Channel Four Documentary
"The King in the Car Park" is to be broadcast on the same day at the Leicester University press conference. The title of the programme says it all really. No question mark, is there?
St Mary of the Annunciation
In the basement of the Hawthorn Building at De Montfort University, are a series of arches that were once part of this church. After the Battle of Bosworth, Richard's naked corpse lay for all to see in St Mary's.
Leicester Castle and Castle Park
Richard III visited Leicester Castle on several ocassions and it would have been a place familiar to him. the Castle Great Hall survives from Richard's time and Castle Gardens contains parts of the old castle walls. Also in the park is a statue dedicated to Richard III.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25797459@N06/3555612631/