Saturday 28 June 2014

Richard III's statue has been relocated in Leicester (England)

I have mentioned in previous posts that I have a sister who lives in the centre of the city of Leicester. She has been able to witness recent developments. 

First, to set the scene. On 23 May 2014 the long awaited outcome of a Judicial Review held earlier in March 2014, was delivered at the Royal Courts of Justice, London. The deliberations were not about where King Richard III should be buried (Leicester or York or any other place) but whether several defendants, including the Secretary of State for Justice, had a duty at common law to consult about where and how the King's remains should be re-interred. The action had been brought by the Plantagenet Alliance  a group of fifteen collateral descendants of king, who believed they should have been consulted. 


King Richard III (2 October 1452 – 22 August 1485)

The Judgement found that 'there are no public law grounds for the Court interfering with the decisions in question'. 'Since Richard III's exhumation on 5 September 2012, passions have been roused and much ink has been split. Issues relating to his life and death and place of re-interment have been exhaustively examined and debated. The Very Reverend David Monteith, the Dean of Leicester Cathedral, has explained the considerable efforts and expenditure invested by the Cathedral in order to create a lasting burial place "as befits an anointed King". We agree that it is time for Richard III to be given as dignified reburial, and finally laid to rest.'

Re-located in Leicester Cathedral's precincts 


Leicester has been re-designing its city centre and cathedral precincts to create a Richard III themed pedestrian experience which links the important sites. This transformation is not yet complete. But this week Richard III's statue has this been re-located from Leicester's Castle Park to it's Cathedral precinct. He has been furnished with a new sword, replacing his dagger. 


My sister did wonder, below, what type of deliveries were expected by road back then in the 15th century. Hay? Armour? Or perhaps, most enticingly, street food in the form of MedievalMorselsThe most likely street food would have been the ever popular pie or "chewit" sold by itinerant traders. Individually sized, encased in pastry-crust and therefore easy to carry and easy to eat. 

Medieval street vendor's pie by MedievalMorsels

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