City plans celebration of life of last Yorkist king

York Council, York Minster and the University of York are among the parties involved in the push to capitalise on the public interest created by the discovery of the last Yorkist monarch’s remains in Leicester.

Research sources being made available to academics during the new campaign include entries in York’s historic archives.

Buildings that could be used to illustrate the life and times of 15th century England include Monk Bar, already a museum dedicated to Richard.

Bones found buried under a car park in Leicester were last month confirmed “beyond reasonable doubt” to be those of the Plantagenet king following DNA tests.

A campaign was subsequently launched for Richard’s remains to be returned to his spiritual home of Yorkshire and buried at York Minster. Plans are underway, however, for the remains to be re-interred in Leicester – a condition of the licence for the exhumation.

York Council chief executive Kersten England said: “Systematically working through the wealth of myths and hard evidence surrounding Richard will give us a firm knowledge base on which to build a programme of public involvement and celebration – with which we hope to include the people of Leicester – to keep alive the life and times of this remarkable man and monarch.”

The Dean of York, Vivienne Faull, added: “I am really pleased the city is working together in this way and welcome the chance to involve the Minster’s archives and building to support commemorations of Richard III who is remembered here in stained glass, in our historic records and through the investiture of his son as Prince of Wales.”

Dr Sarah Rees Jones, from the University of York, said: “By engaging both expert scholars and the public in exploring the fascinating and complex legacy of Richard III’s relationship with the city, I hope we will inspire future generations to discover more about the rich history of medieval York.”

A spokesperson for the Richard III Society added: “The society fully supports this venture which builds on its long promotion of the special relationship between the city and the king.”

The campaign to bring Richard ‘home’ to Yorkshire has been backed by MPs, academics, tourism chiefs and councillors, including members of the town council at Middleham, the monarch’s childhood home.

An online petition calling for his remains to be re-interred in York has also been supported by thousands of members of the public.

Richard grew up at Middleham Castle in the Yorkshire Dales. He regularly visited York during his 26-month reign before his death in 1485.