Richard III dig: American group in bid to have King's remains buried in York
An international organisation dedicated to Richard III has launched a petition calling for remains believed to be those of the king to be buried in York.
The Richard III Foundation, based in Virginia, USA, has invited people to sign a petition which proposes reinterring the bones at York Minster.
The organisation said Richard spent much of his youth at Middleham Castle, in Yorkshire, and spoke about his wish to be buried in the county.
So far, 372 people have put their names to the campaign.
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However, Leicester mayor Sir Peter Soulsby and Philippa Langley, from the Richard III Society, have reiterated their determination to place the bones in Leicester Cathedral.
Sir Peter said: "The foundation, from what I understand, is an American outfit with one representative here in England and thankfully no one takes it very seriously, least of all me.
"I couldn't think of a more appropriate place than Leicester Cathedral for the remains. Richard has rested in the city's shadow for over 500 years – there's a memorial to him in the cathedral and he has been closely associated with Bosworth for a long time.
"There is only place he should be buried as far as I'm concerned and that's Leicester."
Ms Langley, who began the search for Richard in 2008, said: "Initiating this project took three years and included having to go through the Ministry of Justice, royal coroner and the palaces.
"When I started the process everybody said the remains should stay in Leicester.
"There's a huge case for that because he's been here for the past 527 years and it's the Leicester authority which has paid for the dig and provided assistance from the start."
She said York Minster waited 15 years before agreeing to house a stained-glass window dedicated to Richard.
"It worries me to think the same will happen with the remains," she said.
"The problem is that York Minster is full and there might not be anywhere for him.
"I don't want the body sitting around for more than decade before they decide where they're going to put him."
University of Leicester archaeologist Richard Buckley, who led the dig, said: "The remains, assuming it is Richard III, were buried in good faith in the Grey Friars church and should remain in the parish.
"They've been here for 527 years and I see no reason to move them."
The Richard III Foundation has received backing on its petition website from enthusiasts in Australia, New Zealand, Sweden and America.
Andy Smith, the foundation's UK public relations director, said: "York was Richard's city.
"It is where he belongs and it is only right this great lord of the north should return home to Yorkshire after more than 500 years' enforced absence.
"The Richard III Foundation urges the people of Yorkshire to join with us in calling for Richard, our hero and martyr, to be brought home to the city that he loved, and where he is still loved to this day."
Scientists are still waiting for DNA tests to confirm the bones belong to the last Plantagenet king.
The University of Leicester, which is carrying out the identification, said results were expected before the end of the year.
Mr Buckley and his team are analysing the data from the dig site to build a picture of the burial, which includes carbon dating the bones.
He said: "I believe we've got the prime candidate for Richard III – the location, spinal abnormalities and battle trauma all point to it being Richard.
"But the carbon dating and DNA analysis will allow us to say with 100 per cent confidence we've finally found him."
Comments
by EOSD7
Thursday, January 24 2013, 12:28PM
“I made comment relating to having then skeleton scanned to give a 3D reconstruction of King Richard lll and with the news of the of the announcement to be made plus a reconstruction of the facial features to be shown to the world, I would love to be in attendance at this announcement.
EOSD7”
by Ellie33
Sunday, November 04 2012, 9:44PM
“@Valegal. The people of Leicester were in favour of the Yorkist cause in the civil wars and were rewarded by Edward IV for their loyalty for 20 years for their unpaid service in the Battle ofTowton.
I noticed that the people of York are thinking about the money the tourism industry would make by having R3's remains there, if they are his.”
by Bob491
Friday, November 02 2012, 1:32PM
“snowball82, stated: "one thing that has been unearthed by this dig is quite a lot of fanatical, self opinionated "experts and spokesmen for the long dead king. It is a odd reflection on some aspects of human nature that there will always be people who will selectively choose fragments of history, while totally ignoring others to try and *prove" their biased contentious theories of incidents long past. "
How can he reconcile this with the following statement he also made?
"In truth Richard the III was no better than almost all of the Kings and Queens for hundreds of years each side of his short reign that murdered brothers, sisters, cousins and uncles. Just as the other holders of the crown of England he was there because he was ruthless and was prepared to go to any lengths to hold the crown, if he actually had his nephews (and in the case of Henry V the true King) murdered we will never have conclusive evidence to prove it or not, but in all probability he could well have .."
I suggest he would not be able to reconcile his two statements.”
by snowball82
Thursday, November 01 2012, 9:22PM
“Whether the bones found under the Grey Friars car park turn out to belong to Richard III or not, one thing that has been unearthed by this dig is quite a lot of fanatical, self opinionated "experts and spokesmen for the long dead king. It is a odd reflection on some aspects of human nature that there will always be people who will selectively choose fragments of history, while totally ignoring others to try and *prove" their biased contentious theories of incidents long past. Just as it is with Darwinism and sadly even the Holocaust, there will always be a few obsessed individuals who will ignore the probability of the the available evidence to present their views as fact, unfortunately in the case of Richard III there is very little or no evidence leaving only probability. I fid it quite incredible that there are many people (or perhaps only a few who are just very vocal)who are trying to present Richard as being some kind of hero that was treacherously betrayed and a great loss to the kingdom of England. In truth Richard the III was no better than almost all of the Kings and Queens for hundreds of years each side of his short reign that murdered brothers, sisters, cousins and uncles. Just as the other holders of the crown of England he was there because he was ruthless and was prepared to go to any lengths to hold the crown, if he actually had his nephews (and in the case of Henry V the true King) murdered we will never have conclusive evidence to prove it or not, but in all probability he could well have and to try insist he was an innocent victim of an organised lying campaign is a total distortion of what little facts or evidence there is on the matter.”
by heisspartacus
Thursday, November 01 2012, 12:30PM
“I have to say that many contributions to this on-going story, both on this thread and others, read better than some historical novels. Nice historical references and anecdotes. Nice to have some York residents contributing as well.”
by Patrick4939
Thursday, November 01 2012, 11:22AM
“One thing does surprise me and that is the apparent certainty that the remains are those of Richard and that it was known where he was interred.
I have lived abroad for many years and may have missed some evidence. What I clearly remember is a plaque on one of the end supports of the West bridge which stated words to the effect " close to this spot lie the remains of Riard lll last of the Plantagenets" So at least the geography was quite accurate.
By the way does York have a King Richard lll school ?
WIth the Yanks trying to buy History, why not sell them a Bosworth Field ?”
by Bob491
Thursday, November 01 2012, 11:01AM
“There is a tiny Richard III museum in York which has very mixed reviews. It is mainly about the Princes in the Tower, and as I already consider their possible deaths were caused by Margaret Beaufort the mother of Henry Tudor I haven't bothered to go there on my visits to York. I would be disappointed if Leicester's future contribution wasn't better.
But the Battle of Bosworth re-enactments each year near Sutton Cheney, which I have attended many times, are far superior as is the exhibition of the battle with its up to date information and recently discovered artefacts. The 'atmospheric' marshy area where Richard met his end is definitely worth a visit.”
by janed
Thursday, November 01 2012, 10:17AM
“Yes, Bob491, actions DO speak louder than words - and the good people of York ALREADY have a Richard III museum dedicated to preserving his memory more accurately than in the past. I suggest you visit!”
by Bob491
Tuesday, October 30 2012, 7:30PM
“It was the good people of Leicester that asked to be allowed to bury Richard with great honour, and did so in the holiest part of Greyfriars Church.
It was also the good people of Leicester University that rediscovered where he had been buried; and soon the good people of Leicester Cathedral will re-inter his remains with all due reverence, possibly underneath the plaque that already exists there.
Then the good people of Leicester City council will create a museum specially dedicated to preserving his memory more accurately than in the past; and no doubt include the statue of Richard that is currently in Castle Park.
Actions speak louder than words, don't they!”
by janed
Tuesday, October 30 2012, 3:07PM
“It was the people of York who proclaimed in their records in spite of fear of reprisals from the new regime: "that on this day was our good Kind Richard piteously slain and murdered to the great heaviness of the city". I don't believe any such proclamation was made in Leicester! Of COURSE he should come back to York - it goes without saying!”