Richard III: Businessman seeks timbers from Blue Boar for his version of medieval inn
A businessman is searching for original timbers from a 15th century inn as part of a project to recreate a piece of Ricardian history.
John Knott wants to faithfully recreate the Blue Boar Inn – reportedly the last place Richard III stayed before riding out to Bosworth Battlefield in 1485.
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The tavern stood in Highcross Street, Leicester, until the mid-1800s.
Mr Knott said: "There are bits and bobs from the old Blue Boar around and I'd love to make them part of the new inn. I know there are timbers and stonework still out there. An undertaker I used to know, who had a business in London Road, had some bits – it would be great to find him."
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He also believed a company director has some of the timbers.
Mr Knott has asked architects to draw up plans using the original designs.
A 19th-century notebook with detailed sketches of the building was recently discovered.
The new Blue Boar would be in Cadeby – about two miles from the Battle of Bosworth Heritage Centre – and Mr Knott hoped it would attract visitors and tourists from around the country.
Richard Knox, development manager at the heritage centre, said: "It would be rather splendid once it's up.
"Anything which would attract people to this part of the county to learn about Richard III and the Battle of Bosworth is fantastic."
A scaled-down 3D model of the inn has already been constructed by the University of Leicester using the original sketches.
The project was led by Richard Buckley – lead archaeologist on the Greyfriars dig.
He said: "It's a very exciting prospect – this is an important piece of Ricardian history.
"Legend has it that Richard spent his last night in a large first-floor chamber and even bought his own bed from Nottingham, which was assembled for him at the inn."
The bed is now thought to be at Donington le Heath Manor House.
No planning application has been submitted to Hinckley and Bosworth Borough yet.
However, Mr Knott was confident the project would be up and running soon. He said: "We had a site meeting last week with a conservation officer and a meeting this weekend to go over building regulations.
"We haven't submitted any planning applications yet, but it won't be long. Then it should be built fairly quickly.
"The last two lots of buildings I got planning permission for were up and ready in two or three months.
"This isn't a new idea, I've been thinking about this for about 25 years.
"It just so happens that Richard III has been found and I'm near the planning application stages so, hopefully, I can get this up and running soon."
Anyone who might be able to help with the locations of timbers and features from the original inn can call Mr Knott on 01455 292 259.
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