Blue Boar Inn
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We all know the story of Richard III apparently spending a night at the White Boar Inn in Leicester, on his way to his fate at Bosworth. We know of his bed, with its supposed hidden treasure, and that the inn prudently decided to rename itself the Blue Boar, to avoid Tudor wrath (of which…
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Castle Gate in Leicester is currently on the market for £800,000. Renovated inside to form a spacious house, Castle Gate was built in the 15th century and was the main entrance to the bailey of Leicester Castle. The Great Hall of the castle still exists and is a few hundred yards away. It is encased…
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One of Salisbury‘s claims to fame is that it was the place of execution of Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, infamous rebel and possible killer of one or both ‘princes in the Tower‘ (that’s if they were killed at all.) According to legend he was held at the Blue Boar Inn/Saracen’s Head and executed in…
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This link reveals an interesting account of about the discovery and archaeology of Richard’s original resting place in Leicester, and the modern techniques used to find out all that could be learned. I confess I was a little dismayed to hear the Blue Boar described as a “coaching inn”. Really? In 1485? I hoped…
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Recently it has come to my attention that Salisbury Museum holds a carved wooden box which, according to local legend, was fashioned out of the original headman’s block on which Henry Stafford was executed on November 2, 1483. The carving of the box into its present shape took place in Victorian times. Why anyone would…
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A 19th-century description of Bosworth Field that is definitely pro-Richard….!
Ambion Hill, Atherstone, Battle of Bosworth, Blue Boar Inn, Earl of Northumberland, Earl of Oxford, Henry VII, Jasper “Tudor”, John Howard Duke of Norfolk, Leicester, Lord Ferrers, Richard III, Simons Street, Sir Bryan Sandford, Sir Gilbert Talbot, Sir John Cheney, Sir John Savage, Sir Richard Clarendon, Sir Richard Ratcliffe, Sir Robert Brackenbury, Sir Simon Digby, Sir William Conyers, Sir William Stanley, Soar, St. Nicholas’ Cathedral, Sutton Cheney, Thomas Earl of Surrey, Thomas Featherstone, Thomas Lord Stanley, West Bridge, William BrandonThe following rather flowery but decidedly pro-Richard account of Bosworth is taken from an 1838 publication called ‘Legends of Leicester, in the olden time’, by Thomas Featherstone. London: Whittaker & Co., Ave Maria Lane. C. Tilt, Fleet Street. J.G. Brown, Leicester. You will find it here I have copied the text as faithfully as I can,…
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There are events taking place in Leicester this month, but I have extracted the following from here, because it concerns Richard. :- “Heritage Open Days – across Leicester – Thurs, Sept 6- Sun, Sept 9 and Thurs, Sept 13 – Sun, Sept 16 “As part of a national initiative, Leicester’s heritage buildings, parks, universities, businesses, creative…
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Here is an article from the Leicester Mercury: “Apart from a recent council explanatory information panel tucked on its side wall above a litter bin, few passers-by would know that the modern brick box building housing a hotel and casino was the site of Leicester’s most famous inn, that once was the penultimate stop of…