The Richard III Society has released these artist’s impressions of what the Plantagenet’s last resting place could look like. As things stand, if approved it would be placed in Leicester Cathedral despite calls for Richard to be interred at York Minster in accordance with his wishes.
But the society have included a couple of nods to his York connections. The 7ft-long, regal-sized monument would be made of magnesian limestone, the Minster’s building material.
“The magnesian limestone represents Richard’s journey from darkness to light and also his important connections with Yorkshire and the city of York,” a spokesman for the Richard III Society said.
And the tomb would include Richard’s personal emblems among its decorations, including the white rose of York. The society says it has already raised £19,000 of the £30,000 cost of the memorial. The tomb was commissioned by the society’s Philippa Langley in February 2010, to mark the beginning of the Looking For Richard project which culminated in the discovery of his remains under a Leicester car park.
Meanwhile Leicester Cathedral authorities have already opened consultations on the royal reburial within its confines. But with an e-petition calling on the government to bring Richard III to York close to reaching 21,000 signatures as at February 13, they shouldn’t regard that decision as set in stone.
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Good design but needs carved statue lying on top.
I understand that Richard III sent to York for military reinforcements before Bosworth Field. They never arrived.
So much for support, love, loyalty and high esteem from the citizens of Yorkshire.
He does not belong in York a disgrace to the white rose losing to the slovenly lancastrians.
Yes, the Very Rev. Faull was until recently Dean of Leicester…mmm? This is shocking and more needs to be done!
Woops, I meant I would NOT charge to see him!!!!
I think as Leicester City Council have put a lot of money into building the museum around him so there’s no way they’re going to give this up. Search your feelings though people of Leicester you know this is NOT what he would have wanted. THIS IS SOOO WRONG! Do the right thing and people will have more respect for you. I’d bury him in Sherrif Hutton, with his son, OR Middleham Castle where he was brought up and lived much of his adult life. I would charge to see him, that’s grotesque! York Minster have made it clear they don’t want him – SHAME ON YOU THIS SHOULD BE HIS RIGHT! Don’t bury him in an unimpressive, Victorian catherdral – which incidentally was never even a concecrated Catholic cathedral umlike York Minster.
Richard was Catholic – so give him a requiem mass
Richard was Lord of the North so bury him in the place he loved. END OF!
The people of York want him, and I hear that certains persons within the Minster have loyalties to Leicester, and that is why they made that strange statement. But the city will not give up on its son!
I agree with Brittany’s comment – why does the Richard III society, and indeed Leicester feel that they own him? No one owns him. Ownership of a human being is technically slavery, which was abolished in this country a couple of hundred years ago. With this in mind, we can ignore all this legal “ownership”, and focus on fulfulling the wish of the man himself – which was to be buried in York Minster. This man died for his country. Respecting his wishes is the least we can do for him.
I think Leciester University and council are doing a great job but this is a find of significance to the WHOLE country and we are behaving in a very perocial fashion. A find such as this, with tremendous national historical importance, needs proper debate to ensure the right decision is reached for Richard. As I say to my children, “Put yourself in the situation of the person concerned and THEN take a view on what SHOULD happen.” I’m not a Yorkist, coming from Bristol, but firmly believe this is the right thing to do.
Wolsey, unlike Richard, had no connection with York. He never even managed to make it to York (the nearest he got was Cawood). He was arrested on suspicion of treason by Henry Percy (Earl of Northumberland) and began a journey South to London, dying on the way. Wolsey had no desire to be buried in the North so this is very different. His richly designed Italian marble sarcophogus is sitting pretty in St. Paul’s housing another famous occupant – Lord Nelson. Wolsey was another great man maligned and mistreated by the Tudors. Wow, they’ve got a lot to answer for. What should we do with his remains if found? Again, he had NO connection with Leicester. Bury him near his beloved Hampton Court – I’m sure he would have liked that.
Olwyn
The University of Leicester, Leicester City Council and the Richard III Society have been researching , planning and funding the excavation of Grey Friars since 2010 without the slightest flicker of interest from the citizens of York who just sat tight until the confirmation that it was Richard was made public and then jumped in to claim his remains for York. Partly I think for mercenary reasons (bring even more tourists in and raid their pockets. York Council and Tourism bosses are expert at this, probably second only to London). As for Brittany Wynter’s accusation of this being a stitch up job ,I would point out that a certificate has to be obtained from the Ministry of Justice before a dig can begin and a statement has to be made as to where ANY human remains will be re-interred. In accordance with good archeological practice it was stated that Leicester Cathedral , the nearest consecrated ground, would be Richard’s- resting place – barely a few steps away from the Grey Friars excavation. The Dean and Chapter of York Minster deserve our thanks, their sense of justice and fairness far outweighs that of the good citizens of York. I think Brittany Wynter’s remarks are rude,ill-informed and most unseemly. She is implying that this was a secretive,hole in the corner affair I would assure you it most certainly was not. Leicester City Council are now contemplating searching for the remains of Cardinal Wolsey,one time Lord Chancellor of England, Archbishop of YORK and once the most powerful man in England after the King.(Henry VIII) Known to have been buried in Leicester Abbey, exact location unknown.
You have been warned.
I like the simple clean lines of the tomb but does the Richard III Society and the City of Leicester feel they now own him? He was the King of England – not the King of Leicester. Why have not the other two Ricardian organizations been asked to contribute or be involved. All tells me this has been neatly sown up before the dig started. The King was sold out in 1485. It appears he is being sold out again. In 1485, in the name of treachery and in 2013, in the name of money. Good job.