Richard III: Displaying Richard's remains not ruled out as decision rests with University of Leicester
The University of Leicester has not ruled out the possibility that the remains of Richard III will be put on public display.
According to the Ministry of Justice, the skeleton, which was uncovered in August, is in the care of the university.
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It is expected to be reinterred at Leicester Cathedral next spring.
However, before the official re-burial, the remains are being kept at the university, which said it had not made a decision on whether or not to allow the public to see them.
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Richard Taylor, deputy registrar and director of corporate affairs, said: "We need to balance legitimate public interest with a requirement to protect dignity."
A spokeswoman for Leicester Cathedral said it was up to the university, but the church would not take part in any public showings.
She said: "Scientists may have a reason for seeing them, but that is different from public display in the cathedral."
Leicester City Council's Richard III museum, which will be built at the former Leicester Grammar School, near the Greyfriars site, would be an obvious place for the remains, mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said.
However, he said he understood the need for a respectful reinterment.
Following the press conference announcing the remains were of Richard III, members of the media were allowed to view the skeleton in small groups, in silence, under the gaze of a member of the clergy.
Sir Peter said: "I think the arrangements made for the press to see the remains were a model of how to do it effectively, but with dignity.
"If they are going to be displayed then the university would want to take a similar approach.
"The public interest in this project has been phenomenal, but I don't think politicians have a place in this sort of decision."
Sir Peter said the centrepiece of the museum display would be a replica skeleton, created using CT scans and three-dimensional printing techniques at Loughborough University.
Professor Russell Harris, from the university, said: "There are a lot of different and exciting opportunities we could pursue regarding the remains.
"We've recreated the skull and the next obvious thing is a replica skeleton.
"We have the tools at the university so once a final decision about the project has been made, it should be pretty straightforward."
Prof Harris said he would discuss the matter today with Dr Jo Appleby, from the University of Leicester.
The recreated skeleton would join the University of Dundee's facial reconstruction model, which is expected to be on permanent loan when the permanent museum opens next year.
38 Comments
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by sonjel
Tuesday, February 19 2013, 8:55AM
“wolfpaw1972 : What is remotely 'respectful' about having a replica skeleton laid out for people to gawp at? Really, Leicester City Council needs to look up the meaning of the word."
I've looked it up. Replica means model, copy, imitation, mock-up.”
by wolfpaw1972
Saturday, February 16 2013, 5:09PM
“What is remotely 'respectful' about having a replica skeleton laid out for people to gawp at? Really, Leicester City Council needs to look up the meaning of the word.”
by Richard3rd
Friday, February 15 2013, 2:57PM
“http://tinyurl.com/97tsxue”
by knibbsie
Friday, February 15 2013, 8:54AM
“Don't be pedantic - you know full well I didn't mean he had an actual list - do you really think if he had a list Leicester would have been on it? The proximity of the grave is I'm afraid irrelevant - it is not canon law that this happens -More Elizabethan poor law and the concept of "being buried on the parish" Examples Mary Queen of Scots - Richard II - Napoleon I - I'm sure there's more - the Victorians ruined St Martins ( they did this a lot with many lovely churches ) - it's not really a fitting repository for him even if I admit Leicester has won - which it hasn't yet.”
by sixth_swan
Thursday, February 14 2013, 4:42PM
“Richard didn't have a list of burial places.
Leicester has already won.
St Mary de Castro would be a fitting burial place. I'd prefer it myself personally. The Castle Great Hall would make a fantastic Richard III Museum.
But the grave is nearer to St Martin's and the building that will become the Richard III Museum, has already been purchased.”
by knibbsie
Thursday, February 14 2013, 4:34PM
“No chance - I am willing to concede Fotheringhay - Yorkshire where his son was buried and even London but if you really think that there was any chance *at all* that he had Leicester on his list of burial places I truly do feel that you are clutching at straws. We should respect the dead and try at least to put him in a place more filtting for his remains - even if Leicester "wins" I would go for the church of St Mary De Castro every time - at least he has some relations in there!!”
by sixth_swan
Thursday, February 14 2013, 3:58PM
“Are you tired? Do you give up?”
by knibbsie
Thursday, February 14 2013, 3:56PM
“Yawn”
by sixth_swan
Thursday, February 14 2013, 3:38PM
“There is nothing morally wrong with keeping Richard in Leicester. Just as there is nothing morally right in taking him to York.
Do you seriously think that Yorkshire folk don't see York as their spiritual county town? The subdivisions of Yorkshire do not change the fact that the people see themselves as from Yorkshire - capital city York.
Trust me, even if the petition reaches 100,000 - nothing will change. In fact I have started the process of getting the petition withdrawn, as it has no basis anymore. The petition states that a burial should take place in York Minster. As York Minster have commended Richard to the care of Leicester - the petition is null and void. Even if the petition remains in place - it still has zero worth.”
by knibbsie
Thursday, February 14 2013, 3:15PM
“Yes I originally said that - I am entitled to think things through more carefully and come to different conclusions - that was a "gut reaction" which had more to do with my loyalty to Leicester than ethics - indeed like you Kerching Leicesterites who hang on to a completely wrong-minded argument
Sixth Swan - I do not want anyone to be a monarch - where did I say anyone else should - the UK should be a republic (and therefore not the UK!). Unlike you lot I am happy to compromise - in Leicester the wishes of Richard III (on a balance of probability) are adhered to 0% - in York - even in an Anglican church we might get to 75% - somewhat better.
I am sure that York will cash in on this find but at least they will make some money on the back of adhering to ethics and morality - Leicester will make money and ignore ethics and morality.
The population of York(shire) is irrelevant to a petition about York - just like a petition to Leicester is irrelevant to Leicestershire and also York is not the County Town of the three yorkshires - they are Beverley - Northallerton and Leeds - York is in North Yorkshire whose population is 601,000!!! You are playing the numbers game here to confuse the issue aren't you? Again the petition figures speak for themselves here! Again I think the government would have to do a bit more than rely on the wishes of a biased Dean if faced by a petition of over 100,000!!! 21,785 (+48) 7,365 (+7)”