Visiting Bosworth

[martin goddard]

Spent the day at the Bosworth battlefield.
Nice day out.
A real mess as to location etc.

Will get a proper report done ASAP


martin

[Stewart 46A]

Look forward to that, any pictures?

[Leman (Andy)]

I went by canal boat about 6 years ago. Did the traditional trail and the museum, then approached the museum staff to explain that my boat companion and I were studying the battlefield in light of the recent excavations, particularly referring to the boar badge and the cannon balls. We were taken to one side and given instructions using our OS map. The newly discovered battlefield was about a mile or so west of the traditional site. It was quite different being completely flat, plus the intervening Stanleys approached from the south and not the north, as originally stated. It was also quite easy to find the originally boggy area where the boar badge was found.

The museum was good, with reproduction armour and weapons, as well as some of the finds from the new battlefield. And for those who are into it, there is a restored steam railway as well.

[martin goddard]

I will probably write a bit about it here.
Anyone else been?

[Radar]

I've been. Leaving aside location issues, I think they've got it right. Good audio visual presentation of the events of the battle. Nice displays, even if all reproductions. Good café. An example of what can be done. Naseby, Marston Moor both seem rather lacking in comparison

[Colonel Kilgore]

I went many years ago. Although clearly saw the wrong battlefield.

I remember a diorama of the battle - quite inspiring to a pre-teen. Might even have been in 15mm?

[Leman (Andy)]

Back in those days I remember it being made up mainly of Britain's Swoppets.

[Colonel Kilgore]

Back in those days I remember it being made up mainly of Britain's Swoppets.

It was a long time ago. I was young. What did I know...?

[Mike6t3]

I've been as well and enjoyed my visit. Interesting and educational. The steam railway was an added bonus.

[martin goddard]

For what it is worth here are my thoughts and details.

The landscape is fairly flat.
It has changed from rough common land in the 15th century to fielded, canal and levelled farmland.
There are a lot of small streams which were probably dug in order to drain the marshy bits.

The battlefield was surrounded by bits of higher ground.
Sadly the higher ground they chose for the battlefield centre was he wrong bit.Whoops!
The hill chosen by the council is called Ambion hill. This was the campground for the Yorkist army. The actual battlefield is about 1 mile away.

If you look at a battlefield layout from the pre 1970's re site. Just stick a pin in the Ambion hill  and rotate the army deployments  by 90' anti clockwise.

There was a Roman road (Fenn lane these days) crossing the landscape. It was on this road that the two armies approached each other.

The battlefield is overlooked by two church/villages. Dadlington and Stoke Goulding. Dadlington had pits of dead bodies from the battle. The villagers looked over the battle from the church roof. Ambion hill could not be seen from Dadlington church.

It was the metal detectorists that found the cannon balls and trinkets that identified the battle correctly (?).

I am a complete amateur in "spotting the battlefield" but the evidence seemed very good indeed for the newer position.

The battle narrative does not change however, just the location. 

Went to the place of Richard's death and found it to be  a bit of field near a tree.

The existing battlefield is bit of a non event. The new one needs signage and recognition etc...

The museum is very good though.


martin

[Stewart 46A]

Thanks Martin

[Colonel Kilgore]

I've just spotted Martin's write-up on the PP website. Same text, but some useful pictures too. You are too modest, Martin!

Scroll to the bottom here: https://www.peterpig.co.uk/WOTR.html

[martin goddard]

Thank you Simon