County’s lesser-known battle stories to be told
NEW ‘BOSWORTH 1485’ TRAIL TO BE LAUNCHED NEXT SPRING
A NEW battlefield trail is to be launched next spring to bring part of the county’s rich history to life.
Known as Bosworth 1485, it will reveal the “lost” stories of the Battle of Bosworth and death of King Richard III.
Organisers said it will use the “landscape itself to connect places that played a huge part in these momentous events.”
Each location will be marked with interpretation panels to explain its role and significance, they added.
In addition to the panels, four artworks will be installed for the public to view at key locations close to the battlefield site, near Sutton Cheney, where King Richard III, pictured, became the last English monarch to die in battle.
The Bosworth 1485 sculptures will be “reflective of the locations that host them and the importance of their role in the story,” they said.
They will be located at Sutton Cheney, Fenn Lanes near Dadlington, Dadlington and The Bosworth Battlefield Centre itself.
In addition, they said, further stories will be told of other places of significance, including Stoke Golding.
The artworks will be produced by artists from Broadbent Studio, who have previously designed and installed public artworks throughout the UK.
The trail will be delivered by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, independent tourism specialist Leicestershire Promotions, and other key stakeholders.
Organisers have also set up a new crowdfunding appeal to support the development of the project, offering four different levels of sponsorship starting from £99.
The campaign aims to raise £20,000 and the money will be used for enhancements and additional activities around the trail.
Everyone that pledges a donation will be acknowledged on a roll of honour, they said.
Martin Peters, chief executive of Leicestershire Promotions, said: “The story of the Battle of Bosworth is well documented and is interpreted wonderfully well at the Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre and King Richard III Visitor Centre in Leicester.
“However, the one key part of this puzzle that is still missing is the physical experience of moving through the landscape in which it took place.
“The landscape helped to shape and witness the events of 1485 and by embedding a series of unique artworks, we can offer a physical interpretation of the history of the battle and demise of King Richard III.
“We hope people will be able to support this project through the crowdfunding appeal and help to spread the word to a new generation of visitors, keen to hear one of the greatest stories in British history.”