Richard III: Join the queue for Leicester's Guildhall exhibition
It only opened three days ago but already thousands of people from all over the world have visited a Richard III exhibition.
Between Friday, when it opened, and yesterday, the exhibition at Leicester's Guildhall had more than 4,000 visitors.
Those queuing in the freezing wet weather on Saturday morning included people from as far away as Canada and the United States.
Sally Coleman, who works for Leicester City Council's museum service, said: "They've braved sleet and snow to queue and have all been saying how much they've been looking forward to it.
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"People have said they want to be part of it and that's why they've come on the first weekend.
"There was a girl in the queue celebrating her eighth birthday and she just wanted to come here. One lady had got up early and come all the way from Kent."
Elizabeth Butler, nine, of Loughborough, said: "It's really good and the best bit is looking at the skeleton.
"I've been learning about the Tudors at school so it's interesting.
"It was really good when we found out it was him. I thought it would be."
Glenfield couple Hash and Mo Navsaria had debated whether the remains exhumed from under Greyfriars car park would be Richard.
Mo, 52, said: "I wasn't sure if it was going to be him but now it is, I think we'll get a lot of visitors to Leicester."
Hash, 56, said: "It's put the city on the map and it's fantastic.
"The exhibition is great – there's a lot of descriptive stuff and a scan of the skeleton.
"It's good because it's interactive. You get to touch things and hear things."
John and Emma Smith, of Belgrave, Leicester, were there with their children Alfie, Brandon and Talia.
Emma, 33, said: "I thought it would be really interesting to come and see all the things on display. I'm really getting into it all.
"I'd never been inside the Guildhall or the cathedral, so it's really great."
John, 40, said: "It makes you feel proud and the idea that he's been buried there hundreds of years is amazing."
Pete and Anne Gill, both 55, of Countesthorpe, had a 20-minute wait in the drizzle.
Pete said: "We've been following it all closely and it's an amazing find and so great for the city.
"It's something we can all be proud of and it's going to get bigger and bigger."
Anne said: "We travel abroad quite a bit and when we tell people we're from Leicester they've never heard of it. Now people are going to know because it's where Richard III's skeleton was found."
The exhibition is due to be on for about a year, until a permanent display opens at the former Leicester Grammar School, next to the dig site.
The opening is being planned to coincide with the re-interment of the remains, at Leicester Cathedral.
The exhibition is open today until Friday, from 10am until 5pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 5.30pm.
49 Comments
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by Richard3rd
Friday, February 15 2013, 3:48PM
“http://tinyurl.com/97tsxue”
by sixth_swan
Friday, February 15 2013, 11:58AM
“Perhaps New York?”
by Bob491
Friday, February 15 2013, 11:54AM
“Quote: "So knibbsie thinks Richard shouldn't be buried in a building governed by the Queen?
So that means York Minster is out then."
Since the Queen reigns over the entire country, presumably it means knibbsie wants the remains to go abroad. Sold to the USA no doubt!”
by sixth_swan
Thursday, February 14 2013, 11:11AM
“So you have officially discounted York Minster. Please take note everyone. Where do you suggest then in York?”
by knibbsie
Thursday, February 14 2013, 11:06AM
“I never said "York Minster" I said "York" - Case still open!”
by sixth_swan
Thursday, February 14 2013, 10:55AM
“So knibbsie thinks Richard shouldn't be buried in a building governed by the Queen?
So that means York Minster is out then.
Case closed.”
by knibbsie
Thursday, February 14 2013, 9:23AM
“The Royal Line of succession is irrelevant - I said descended from. So who was Margaret Tudor's father then - who was Elizabeth of York married to? are you been deliberately obtuse? Henry VII *is* Elizabeth Windsor's 13th Great Grandfather - Richard III was her 14th Great Grand-Uncle (so she is *not* directly descended from him) - Of course Richard in his Titulus Regulus made Elizabeth of York illegitimate so to *him* that would mean (if he indeed believed it) that the present monarch has no right to rule at all (As a Republican I agree with him for different reasons) - even more reason why he should not be buried in a church governed by her!”
by Bob491
Thursday, February 14 2013, 1:32AM
“Quote from Knibbsie: "Elizabeth II is descended from Henry VII through Princess Margaret and James IV of Scotland"
Knibbsie I have already pointed out that you are spectacularly wrong on this, but you have ignored it. Why?
The Royal Line of Succession goes through Edward IV, Elizabeth of York, Princess Margaret (Henry VIII's oldest sister), through Mary Queen of Scots and on to James VI of Scotland, also known as James I of England. It does not go through Henry VII.”
by Richard3rd
Wednesday, February 13 2013, 4:22PM
“Upset are we.
Oh Dear”
by knibbsie
Wednesday, February 13 2013, 3:26PM
“Richard3rd - for Thatcherite now read Fascist and I do pay my Council Tax to Leicester City Council and work for a living - not that is any of your business or affect my ability to make a comment in a democracy! From the tenor of your argument I bet you're hoping another body is exhumed - this time from a carpark in Leipzig for you to give due veneration!”