the Ricardian Bulletin The magazine of the Richard III Society UPDATE ON THE KING'S REBURIAL RICHARD III AND SUDELEY CASTLE THE ORIGINS OF THE RICHARD III SOCIETY RICHARD III'S FIRST LEICESTER TOMB September 2014 Advertisement the Ricardian Bulletin The magazine of the Richard III Society September 2014 Richard III Society Founded 1924 Contents www.richardiii.net 2 From the Chairman In the belief that many features of the tradi- 3 Reinterment news tional accounts of the character and career of 9 Members’ letters Richard III are neither supported by sufficient evidence nor reasonably tenable, the Society 11 Society news and notices aims to promote in every possible way 14 AGM and Members’ Day Fact File research into the life and times of Richard III, 16 Future Society events and to secure a reassessment of the material relating to this period and of the role in 18 Society reviews English history of this monarch. 22 Other news, reviews and events Patron 25 Research news HRH The Duke of Gloucester KG, GCVO 28 Looking for Richard – the follow-up President 37 The Man Himself: King Richard’s tomb at Leicester Rhoda Edwards Peter Hammond FSA 38 A digital reconstruction of King Richard’s lost tomb Vice Presidents 40 Articles John Audsley, Kitty Bristow, Moira Habberjam, 40 Richard III’s legacy at Sudeley Castle and Gardens Nicky Weston Carolyn Hammond, Jonathan Hayes, 43 New evidence for ‘Edward VI’s’ reign in Ireland Randolph Jones Rob Smith. 45 A small beginning: the origins of the Richard III Society Executive Committee John Saunders Phil Stone (Chairman), Jacqui Emerson, Gretel Jones, Sarah Jury, Marian Mitchell, 48 The wonderful Caladrius bird Tig Lang Wendy Moorhen, Lynda Pidgeon, 49 Katherine Plantagenet, countess of Huntingdon Peter Hammond John Saunders, Anne Sutton, 50 A series of remarkable ladies: Dorothea of Brandenburg Richard Van Allen, David Wells, Susan Wells, Geoffrey Wheeler, Stephen York. Rita Diefenhardt-Schmitt 51 Books The Ricardian Bulletin is produced by the Bulletin Editorial Committee. 55 From the Barton Library [email protected] 56 Branch and group reports © Richard III Society 2014 60 From the Branches and Groups Liaison Officer ISSN 0308 4337 61 Branch and group contacts Individual contributions and illustrations © the contributors except where otherwise 63 Membership stated. Designed by Flagholme Publishing Services Other features Printed by XLPress Limited Distributed by E-Mediacy Limited 7 Late news Advertising contact: Howard Choppin, 27 Ricardian crossword 9 by Sanglier [email protected] 31 On the lighter side For details on submitting future contribut ions, please see p. 17. 63 Coming in December’s Bulletin 64 Obituaries Inside back cover: Society contacts, Subscriptions due : Subscriptions for the Subscription rates and Calendar forthcoming membership year fall due on 2 October 2014. Please see the renewal Cover photo: Sudeley Castle, the ruins of the banqueting hall with its form in the centrefold section and splendid oriel windows and adjoining state rooms, built during the ‘Membership matters’ on p. 12 for rates reign of Richard III. See p. 40. (Photo by John Saunders.) and methods of payment. Right: The Leicester statue of Richard III has been relocated – see pp 8 and 22. 1 From the CHAIRMAN The Judicial Review judgement was handed down after City of Leicester was to be congratulated on its June’s Bulletin went to press. Although we provide a brief achievement. At last, there is a public representation of summary of it in this edition, many of you will already Richard III that doesn’t reflect that given in a certain be familiar with its contents. The statement we issued at play. the time reflects the reality of the situation and, I hope, This is another informative and enjoyable Bulletin, also reflects the feelings of most of our members. Now the use of full colour certainly helping to bring extra life the court has given its judgement, there seems little point to the magazine. The feature on Sudeley Castle and the in prolonging the debate, which can only detract from accompanying photos certainly prove this point, the dignity of King Richard III’s reburial. There is also a especially the front cover showing the ruined danger that Ricardians will be marginalised in the court banqueting hall with white roses in full bloom. We also of public opinion if we are at odds with organisations or have a fresh look at events in Ireland in 1487 and Tig individuals just because of an alternative view. It will not Lang tells us more about the fascinating Caladrius bird, help our task of securing a meaningful reassessment of which she introduced to us at April’s study weekend. (If the king’s life and reputation. As was pointed out at last only I could have had one in my days as a junior year’s AGM, we do not own Richard III, we are but one doctor!) In our 90th year, it’s good to be reminded about of many interested parties. To behave as though we were the origins of our Society and to reflect on all that we the only one would be both self‐indulgent and counter ‐ have achieved since. productive. We are also republishing an article about Richard III’s The debate about the location of Richard III’s final first Leicester tomb, which seems very relevant at a time resting place has been an emotive one, testing and when his second tomb is being commissioned. It was straining relationships. However, it’s time to put these researched and written by Rhoda Edwards and first differences behind us and focus on the reburial, published in The Ricardian in 1975. Rhoda also produced avoiding further argument and dissent. In this issue, we The Itinerary of Richard III, an invaluable source provide members with details of the proposed tomb as document, and she wrote two of the best novels about well as a message from the Revd Peter Hobson, Richard III, Some Touch of Pity and Fortune’s Wheel. Sadly Leicester Cathedral’s Canon Missioner. Having a both are out of print, though they are available from our constructive dialogue with the cathedral means Fiction Library. listening to their views as much as presenting our own. We have another lively letters page and encouraging The cathedral’s design for King Richard’s tomb has not reports from our branches and groups, together with a met with universal approval, but in the course of report from Jacqui Emerson, their liaison officer. It’s a meetings with the cathedral and other stakeholders, we pleasure to see how our local presence in both this have argued for changes and some have been country and overseas has expanded in recent years. As I incorporated into the design. As I write, we still await have done for all who have begun new groups in the confirmation of the date and detail of the reburial last few years, I wish Susan Martin well in organising a ceremonies. On p. 7 I touch briefly on our own group for the Birmingham area (see p. 13). provisional plans. Before I bring this to a close, I must pay tribute to our The Richard III Visitor Centre in Leicester opened to retiring treasurer, Paul Foss, who has given us eight the public at the end of July and we will be reviewing it years of service in the post. We will miss his steady hand in December’s Bulletin. It is not without controversy, as on the financial tiller, his sound advice and occasional can be seen from Philippa Langley’s letter in this issue. moments of laconic humour. We wish him all the best Not wishing to sow dissent or be too controversial, I for the future. A new treasurer, Sarah Jury, has been must say that some of the behind‐the‐scenes events appointed and she will take up the role shortly. have been rather worrying, and some of the things we This year, our Members’ Day and AGM will take see and hear can be difficult, if not impossible, to place for the first time in the historic city of Norwich explain. However, let this not detract from the Visitor and I look forward to meeting you there for the last Centre itself. I was there all day on the Saturday when it major Society gathering before King Richard’s reburial opened – and will write an account of that for the next next spring. Hopefully, when we meet in October, we issue – and the general feeling of everyone to whom I will know more about Leicester Cathedral’s plans as spoke, whether members of the Society or the general well as our own. public, was that there was much to enjoy and that the 2 REINTERMENT news I am very pleased that there has been a clear‐cut decision. The result of the Judicial Review It means that we can now move forward and reinter King At 10 a.m. on 23 May in Court 3, Royal Courts of Justice, Richard with the dignity and sanctity that is due to an London, Lady Justice Hallett handed down the anointed king of England. Understandably, the judgement will be a disappointment to the Plantagenet Alliance and judgement of the Judicial Review held on 13 and 14 its supporters, and indeed to many of our own members, March this year before herself, Mr Justice Ouseley and but I hope that we can now all put the disagreements Mr Justice Haddon‐Cave. behind us and join together to honour King Richard when The application by the Plantagenet Alliance he is laid to rest in Leicester Cathedral.