Bosworth Field

[poliphilo]

At the time they called it the Battle of Redesmoor. Which rather suggests that it was fought, not on Ambion hill where the visitors centre stands, but in the marshy lowlands to the south, between Ambion hill and the village of Dadlington, where many of the dead were buried and where Henry VII established a chantry chapel.  It's odd; Bosworth Field is one of the two or three decisive battles in English history, but we know very little about it- much less (for example)  than we know about the Battle of Hastings four hundred years before.

Later historians called it Bosworth after the nearby town of Market Bosworth to the north. The battle didn't impinge on the town, but its spire is the local landmark, and is visible from most quarters of the presumed battlefield.

It's a mild, unspectacular  Midlands landscape. Tiny villages, a railway line, a canal. Birdsong. Pretty much as I imagined it  in the first purchas book. (Phew!)

Anyway, here are some pictures:


The Church at Market Bosworth


Market Bosworth on its ridge, viewed from Ambion hill.


Looking South from Ambion hill, towards the likely site of the battle. There wasn't a wood there in 1485.


From Ambion Hill looking west



King Richard's Well. Legend has it that Richard III drank from this well before the battle. The fancy pyramid is the work of a late 19th century American Richardian. 

Comments

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I agree. Richard did what any medieval prince would have done- and as medieval princes go he was one of the best. I don't exactly regret the triumph of the Tudors (a colourful bunch) but I have a tenderness for Richard.

I'm sure Prince Jet would manage things better than the present heir to the throne. He could hardly manage them worse!

[currawong.livejournal.com]

Richard was certainly wildly popular in his home dukedom of York which is more than can be said of any of his contemporary high nobles. Colourful he may have been, but Henry VIII was a psychopath who was responsible for the death of more Englishmen than any other British historical personage.

As for Charles, one is aware of the difficulties one encountered during one's extremely chilly upbringing, but when one allowed one's self to have one's highly inappropriate fiancee foisted upon one, and then for one to humiliate one's wife for years until one had driven her completely nuts, then one has to seriously consider whether one is fit for one's future role, wuoldn't one say?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Henry VII was a pretty good king and his grandaughter, Elizabeth, was a little belter. Two generations out of three ain't bad.

Bluff King Hal was (and remains) oddly popular. I blame Hans Holbein and Charlie Laughton.

Charles (Windsor not Laughton)is tiresomely opinionated and self-regarding. When he was younger (much younger) I had some sympathy for him, but his treatment of Diana alienated me completely