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Richard III visitor centre to open next month

June 10, 2014

King Richard III reconstructed head. Credit Leicester City Council

Tickets have gone on sale for the King Richard III Visitor Centre: Dynasty, Death and Discovery, which will open in Leicester on 26 July.

Following the recent High Court ruling over the reinterment of the remains of King Richard III, which were found under a car park in Leicester in 2012, the city of Leicester is gearing up for the grand opening of its new exhibitor centre, which will tell the story of the life and death of the much debated king, including the events that led to his death and subsequent hasty burial.

King Richard III was killed in the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, the last decisive battle of the War of the Roses, and for years there were theories as to where his remains lay. Since the discovery of his remains in 2012, a fierce battle has waged between York and Leicester over where the king should be laid to rest, but on 23 May the High Court ruled that there was “no public grounds for a court to interfere” and Richard III’s remains will now be reinterred in Leicester Cathedral in spring 2015.

This new exhibition space will tell the story of the notorious king, including his rise to power, the betrayal that led to his death and perhaps the greatest archaeological detective story ever told, including the cutting edge science and analysis used in the rediscovery and identification of King Richard III, which has cast doubt on the extent of the king’s physical deformities, famously ridiculed by Shakespeare.

Among exhibits will be a detailed facial reconstruction of the king, as well as a replica of his skeleton that shows his battle injuries, including the fatal blow. Visitors will also be able to stand by the poignant spot where Richard III’s remains were discovered more than half a millennium after they were buried.

Iain Gordon, director of the King Richard III Visitor Centre, said: “Since the historic discovery of King Richard III’s body in 2012, we have seen unprecedented interest in the story and in the history of Leicester. We are very fortunate to have one of the most significant and intriguing historic sites in England located here and we are looking forward to welcoming people from all over the world to learn more about this dramatic story.”