Richard III & The Greyfriars Project 4: The Burial Site

The Newly Filled Trench 3 

The archaeological activity at Greyfriars in Leicester seems to be winding down now after a final round of public access days.  A few days ago I visited the dig once more to view the actual site where human remains were found.  I also called in to Leicester’s lovely old guildhall nearby, to take another look at the small selection of artefacts recovered from the dig.

Inlaid Floor Tile From Greyfriars Church

Medieval Silver Penny From The Site

Inlaid Tile Fragments From The Site 

Copper Alloy Letters Possibly From Greyfriars Church Tombs 

Leicester Guildhall

The scope of the project was reduced somewhat as Trench 3, where evidence of Robert Herrick’s 17th Century garden were found, had already been filled in.  It was interesting to see how the other two trenches had been excavated further since my first visit, revealing, amongst other features, sections of possible stone benches from the friary chapter house.  The main features of interest had been simply but effectively labelled this time round and, once again, the guides provided clear information about what we were seeing and interesting insights into how the Greyfriars complex might have been used by its occupants.

Trench Two Now Showing Orientation
Of Cloister Passage Clearly

Remains Of Chapter House In Trench 1 

Remains Of Chapter House In Trench 1

Remains Of Probable Chapter House Bench In Trench 1

Various leaflets and information sheets were also available and included some colourful background about the relocation of Richard’s own bed from Nottingham Castle to Leicester’s Blue Boar Inn prior to the Battle of Bosworth.  Reputedly, it remained there afterwards, subsequently revealing a hoard of golden coins secreted in the base.  I wonder if this is an authenticated account or just more picturesque Ricardian folklore? There's also a suggestion the inn was originally known as The Silver Boar, (Richard's Emblem), and hurriedly renamed after his defeat.

The Burial Site

The Burial Site Adjacent To Victorian Foundations

Of course, the main attraction was the actual site where Richard III’s remains, (if it is indeed him), were found.  It’s striking just how near to later brick foundations the skeleton had lain and just how close it must have come to being destroyed or at least disturbed by their construction.  This was something specifically alluded to during my first visit as a reason why Richard’s discovery was unlikely and makes me speculate again if the archaeologists knew what they had even at that stage.  Either way, it seems the location of the corpse, - centrally within a prominent area of the church choir, certainly points to a high status burial, as might have been accorded a fallen monarch.

Silver Boar Badge Found At Bosworth Field

It’s been a local event of some significance and appears to have captured the imagination of Leicester's citizens and the global media alike in recent weeks.  Hopefully, the results of DNA analysis will put the matter beyond doubt conclusively before the year’s out.  I notice that there has already been some discussion in the local press about what should happen to the remains and even a suggestion of redeveloping the old burnt-out Friars Mills factory as a Richard III museum.  It wasn’t specified who would fund that.