1485 The Battle of ‘Bosworth’

The Battle of Bosworth or Bosworth Field was an important battle during the Wars of the Roses in 15th century England. It was fought on 22 August 1485 between the Yorkist King Richard III, the last of the Plantagenet dynasty, and the Lancastrian contender for the crown, Henry Tudor, 2nd Earl of Richmond (later King Henry VII).

It ended in the defeat and death of Richard and the establishment of the Tudor dynasty. Historically, the battle is considered to have marked the end of the Wars of the Roses, although further battles were fought in the years that followed as Yorkist pretenders unsuccessfully sought to reclaim the crown.

Wikipedia - Battle of Bosworth Field

In recent times it has been questioned as to whether The Battle of Bosworth was in fact rather more accurately The Battle of Atherstone, but we’ll come back to that later.

Firstly we’ll outlined the more historically accepted links Atherstone has this with important event in English History.

…the troops of the Earl of Richmond entered this town on the 20th of August 1485, and halted here for the night. They were encamped on a meadow to the north of the church, since denominated, from that circumstance, the Royal Meadow. It was during this busy and portentous night that a meeting took place at Atherstone, between Richmond and the two Stanleys,* in which such measures of co-operation were concerted, as occasioned the overthrow of King Richard in the ensuing battle. The Battle of Bosworth Field was fought on Monday, the 22nd of August, 1485.

*Richmond is supposed to have fixed his quarters at the ancient inn, known by the sign of the Three Tuns. The secret conference is said to have taken place in a Little Close, on the confines of the town; but tradition fails to point out the precise spot.

The Beauties of England and Wales. By J. Britton, J. Norris Brewer, Rev. J. Hodgson, and F. C. Laird. Published 1814

It was at Atherstone that the earl of Richmond, afterwards Henry VII, and his army halted on the night of the 20th August, 1485, two nights before the decisive Battle of Bosworth Field. The troops encamped in a meadow to the north of the church, since called the Royal Meadow ; and during the night, Henry held a conference in Atherstone with the two Stanleys, in which the measures were agreed upon which resulted in the defeat and death of Richard III.

‘The Penny Cyclopædia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge’ by C. Knight, published in 1843.

‘The Royal Meadow’ still exists in Atherstone today and can be easily visited; nearby is the modern road of Royal Meadow Drive.

The earl is said to have slept at the inn known by the sign of the “Three Tuns;” and during the night he had a conference with Sir William Stanley, and formed the plans which resulted in the entire overthrow of the king in the great battle which followed on the 22nd. This conference took place in a little close adjoining the town. The old carved oak chair occupied by Richmond on this occasion is said to be still in existence, and is in the possession of Stafford S. Baxter, Esq., of Atherstone.

The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868). London: Virtue & Co.

…found our way to a church (The modern St. Marys on Atherstone Market Square), once part of a monastery, where the old fourteenth-century bell was still tolled. It was in the chancel of this church that Henry, Earl of Richmond, partook of Holy Communion on the eve of his great victory over Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field, by which he became King Henry VII. He had also spent a night at the “Three Tuns Inn” preparing his plans for the fight, which occurred two days later, August 22nd, 1485

From John O’Groats to Land’s End, or 1372 miles on foot a book of days and chronicle of adventures by two pedestrians on tour. Robert Naylor and John Naylor (1916), Caxton Publishing Company, Limited Clun House, Surrey Street, W.C.

The Three Inns on Long Street in Atherstone is still very much in business today and is rumoured to still contain a ‘Kings Room’ where Henry slept that night. The building now known as St Marys church is also still in existence at the top of the Market Square, both are easily visited.

King Dick’s Well

There was on the site of the battle a well named “King Dick’s Well,” which was covered with masonry in the form of a pyramid, with an entrance on one of its four sides, and which covered the spring where Richard, weary of fighting, had a refreshing drink before the final charge that ended in his death.

From John O’Groats to Land’s End, or 1372 miles on foot a book of days and chronicle of adventures by two pedestrians on tour. Robert Naylor and John Naylor (1916), Caxton Publishing Company, Limited Clun House, Surrey Street, W.C.

The Battle of Merevale, near Atherstone

In recent years some historians have begun to question the traditionally accepted location for The Battle of Bosworth, arguing in fact that the battle took place some 8 miles west of the original Ambion Hill location, near Merevale, Atherstone, Warwickshire.

This new theory is based upon the following evidence,

• Many local Atherstone place names refer to Richard III.
• Merevale Abbey received compensation from Henry VII after the battle.
• The ancient stained glass windows in Merevale Church refer to both Richard and Henry.
• It was unlikely that Richard’s army would have camped on top of Ambion Hill as they would be seen from a distance.

For more information and discusion on this topic try the following links:

• BBC Inside Out - RICHARD III AND Bosworth Field
• Why I moved the Battle of Bosworth to Atherstone - Michael K. Jones an independent scholar

Again, please note this article is very much a work in progress. We are already aware of some evidence that alters exactly how and when Henry met the Stanleys. Any and all contributions are welcomed using the form below.