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I'm a PhD student researching the role of the archaeological dead in contemporary British society. Think of this as a scrapbook of all the interesting links, snippets of information and random bits and bobs I come across pertaining to death, dying and the dead. Enjoy?!

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    A grave undertaking… Victoria Station cemetery is departing from Platform 1 Hundreds of poor families are believed to be buried under the rail platforms and buildings, many having fallen victim to Victorian cholera epidemics. Human remains lying in a mass paupers’ grave under Manchester Victoria station are to be dug up and re-buried five miles away. Hundreds of poor families are believed to be buried under the rail platforms and buildings, many having fallen victim to Victorian cholera epidemics. Station bosses say that any remains found at the 150-year-old site – formerly Walker’s Croft burial ground – will be exhumed, placed in coffins and taken to Southern Cemetery in Chorlton… (Source: Manchester Evening News)

    A grave undertaking… Victoria Station cemetery is departing from Platform 1

    Hundreds of poor families are believed to be buried under the rail platforms and buildings, many having fallen victim to Victorian cholera epidemics.

    Human remains lying in a mass paupers’ grave under Manchester Victoria station are to be dug up and re-buried five miles away.

    Hundreds of poor families are believed to be buried under the rail platforms and buildings, many having fallen victim to Victorian cholera epidemics.

    Station bosses say that any remains found at the 150-year-old site – formerly Walker’s Croft burial ground – will be exhumed, placed in coffins and taken to Southern Cemetery in Chorlton…

    (Source: Manchester Evening News)

    Why Richard III’s final resting place matters I’m in favour of a spot of Plantagenet controversy over King Richard’s burial place. It’s good for popular history – and tourism Who says the Wars of the Roses are over? Five hundred years since the Battle of Bosworth, the Yorkist side is turning in on itself, and the Richard III Society may have finally met its match in the Plantagenet Alliance. The former, in association with the University of Leicester, kicked off last year’s stunning exhumation of Richard III’s body from a car park in Leicester, and Leicester is where it wants his final resting place to be. Now the latter, consisting of 15 living relatives of the king, say they are planning to use the law to insist he be buried in York instead. You might wonder what they’re all getting so worked up about – and this Richard III business certainly defies all logical explanation. Read more.

    Why Richard III’s final resting place matters

    I’m in favour of a spot of Plantagenet controversy over King Richard’s burial place. It’s good for popular history – and tourism

    Who says the Wars of the Roses are over? Five hundred years since the Battle of Bosworth, the Yorkist side is turning in on itself, and the Richard III Society may have finally met its match in the Plantagenet Alliance.

    The former, in association with the University of Leicester, kicked off last year’s stunning exhumation of Richard III’s body from a car park in Leicester, and Leicester is where it wants his final resting place to be. Now the latter, consisting of 15 living relatives of the king, say they are planning to use the law to insist he be buried in York instead. You might wonder what they’re all getting so worked up about – and this Richard III business certainly defies all logical explanation.

    Read more.

    Richard III would want Catholic funeral, says Dr John Ashdown-Hill The academic whose research led to the discovery of Richard III’s remains said he should be given a Roman Catholic rather than Anglican funeral. Earlier this year, skeletal remains found beneath a car park in Leicester were confirmed as King Richard’s. But since the find, a disagreement has surfaced about whether he should be buried in Leicester or York. Dr John Ashdown-Hill, from Colchester, has now entered the fray saying King Richard would want a Catholic burial. Richard was killed in battle in 1485 during the civil war known as the Wars of the Roses. The family which defeated him, the Tudors, tried to make sure he was remembered as a villain, capable of killing family and friends. But according to Dr Ashdown-Hill, Richard was “a very religious man”. “There is a lot of evidence that Richard III had a very serious personal faith,” he said, though added it was impossible to know what Richard III would have made of plans for burial at a non-Catholic site at York or Leicester. “If Richard III had not have died, maybe the Anglican church would never have existed,” he said. He said the reason Leicester had been chosen as the burial site was because of the terms of the exhumation, which, depending on the identity of the remains, specified the bones must be buried in the “nearest consecrated site”. In Richard III’s case, the nearest site is Leicester Cathedral. More than 7,500 people have signed an online petition in favour of keeping the king’s remains in Leicester, but nearly 25,000 have signed up to support re-interring his remains in York Minster. York Outer MP Julian Sturdy said: “The call is strong from the great county of Yorkshire that Richard III did want to be buried where he was loved. That was the key thing.” Leicester Cathedral acting dean Barry Naylor: “It is normal practice that if a body is exhumed it is re-interred in the nearest consecrated grounds. “I can assure people there will be the finest of liturgy and we will be very happy to incorporate elements from Catholic tradition and perhaps Latin plain chant in the services that take place. “Leicester Cathedral is doing its utmost to ensure that Richard is re-interred with honour and respect here at the heart of our city of Leicester.” He added that the cathedral had prepared a brief for its architects and more on the plans for Richard III’s tomb was expected in July.

    Richard III would want Catholic funeral, says Dr John Ashdown-Hill

    The academic whose research led to the discovery of Richard III’s remains said he should be given a Roman Catholic rather than Anglican funeral.

    Earlier this year, skeletal remains found beneath a car park in Leicester were confirmed as King Richard’s.

    But since the find, a disagreement has surfaced about whether he should be buried in Leicester or York.

    Dr John Ashdown-Hill, from Colchester, has now entered the fray saying King Richard would want a Catholic burial.

    Richard was killed in battle in 1485 during the civil war known as the Wars of the Roses.

    The family which defeated him, the Tudors, tried to make sure he was remembered as a villain, capable of killing family and friends.

    But according to Dr Ashdown-Hill, Richard was “a very religious man”.

    “There is a lot of evidence that Richard III had a very serious personal faith,” he said, though added it was impossible to know what Richard III would have made of plans for burial at a non-Catholic site at York or Leicester.

    “If Richard III had not have died, maybe the Anglican church would never have existed,” he said.

    He said the reason Leicester had been chosen as the burial site was because of the terms of the exhumation, which, depending on the identity of the remains, specified the bones must be buried in the “nearest consecrated site”.

    In Richard III’s case, the nearest site is Leicester Cathedral.

    More than 7,500 people have signed an online petition in favour of keeping the king’s remains in Leicester, but nearly 25,000 have signed up to support re-interring his remains in York Minster.

    York Outer MP Julian Sturdy said: “The call is strong from the great county of Yorkshire that Richard III did want to be buried where he was loved. That was the key thing.”

    Leicester Cathedral acting dean Barry Naylor: “It is normal practice that if a body is exhumed it is re-interred in the nearest consecrated grounds.

    “I can assure people there will be the finest of liturgy and we will be very happy to incorporate elements from Catholic tradition and perhaps Latin plain chant in the services that take place.

    “Leicester Cathedral is doing its utmost to ensure that Richard is re-interred with honour and respect here at the heart of our city of Leicester.”

    He added that the cathedral had prepared a brief for its architects and more on the plans for Richard III’s tomb was expected in July.

    (Source: BBC)

    Richard III: King could be taken on final procession from Bosworth Battlefield to Leicester Cathedral

    A procession from Bosworth Battlefield to Leicester Cathedral could play a part in the reinterment of Richard III.

    The bones of the monarch are due to be buried at the cathedral in May next year.

    Proposals include the remains being brought in a procession from Bosworth – where Richard was killed in 1485 – to the city and displaying the king’s coffin, to allow the public to pay their respects.

    Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: “I think some form of procession is going to be an important part of the ceremony on the day.

    “People will want to have an opportunity to share it publicly.”

    The Duke of Gloucester will be at the reburial as a mark of respect for Richard III, who held the same title for 24 years. Sir Peter said: “I’m very pleased the Duke of Gloucester is firmly committed to being a part of this momentous occasion.

    “We don’t yet know who else might be attending, but we do expect the event will draw in tens of thousands of people.”

    Acting cathedral dean, Canon Barry Naylor, said displaying the coffin was known as “a receiving into the church”. He said: “It’s just an idea at the moment, but we thought it might be fitting, given the interest.”

    The procession would take place between May 4 and 25, with the memorial service four days later.

    Philippa Langley, from the Richard III Society, said “We met cathedral officials and they suggested an honourable procession from the battlefield.

    “To a man we thought it was the most wonderful idea.

    “We’re playing quite a big part in the plans. We went to see the Duke of Gloucester and he suggested using the royal undertaker.

    “We thought that was a very fitting idea and we’re exploring that at the minute.”

    A cathedral spokeswoman said: “The ceremony will probably be part of a longer celebration of Richard in the city, county and cathedral and ideas are being considered which reflect his life and times.”

    Richard Taylor, of the University of Leicester, said: “People need to be aware the remains are very fragile and this needs to be taken into account.

    “Transportation needs to be minimised to avoid damage.

    “One idea is that his standard is brought from Bosworth on horse and reunited with him on his way to the cathedral.

    Compromise deal could see Richard III lie in state at York Minster The remains of King Richard III could lie in state in York Minster later this year under a compromise deal over his final resting place between local campaigners and the academics who discovered his bones. York MPs still plan to meet with Leicester University representatives in the coming weeks to make the case for bringing the King back to his favoured county for burial in Yorkshire, but have also reacted favourably to a possible compromise should they fail. The deal could see the last Yorkist King of England lie in state for a short period at the Minster to allow the public to come and pay their final respects, before he is returned to Leicester to be buried. The remains of Richard III, who was slain at the battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, were discovered in a car park in Leicester last month. The university team which carried out the excavation plans to bury him at Leicester University. But a rival campaign wants to bring Richard back to his chosen resting place of York Minster. The debate took a nasty turn this week when it emerged the Dean of York, the Very Rev Vivienne Faull, had to call the police after receiving abusive letters from people objecting to her stance on the issue. The possible compromise has been hatched by a “neutral” MP, Chris Skidmore, who is a member of the Richard III society which helped fund the excavation. “I am interested in an independent solution,” Mr Skidmore told MPs. “Consider my compromise, whereby even if Richard is buried in Leicester, his body might lie in state at York for a week.” York Central MP Hugh Bayley, said it was “too early” to make a deal ahead of his crunch talks with Leicester University, but said: “It is a constructive idea. “We should look at ways to 
bring together people from York and Leicester, rather than set them against each other,” he added.

    Compromise deal could see Richard III lie in state at York Minster

    The remains of King Richard III could lie in state in York Minster later this year under a compromise deal over his final resting place between local campaigners and the academics who discovered his bones.

    York MPs still plan to meet with Leicester University representatives in the coming weeks to make the case for bringing the King back to his favoured county for burial in Yorkshire, but have also reacted favourably to a possible compromise should they fail.

    The deal could see the last Yorkist King of England lie in state for a short period at the Minster to allow the public to come and pay their final respects, before he is returned to Leicester to be buried.

    The remains of Richard III, who was slain at the battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, were discovered in a car park in Leicester last month.

    The university team which carried out the excavation plans to bury him at Leicester University. But a rival campaign wants to bring Richard back to his chosen resting place of York Minster.

    The debate took a nasty turn this week when it emerged the Dean of York, the Very Rev Vivienne Faull, had to call the police after receiving abusive letters from people objecting to her stance on the issue.

    The possible compromise has been hatched by a “neutral” MP, Chris Skidmore, who is a member of the Richard III society which helped fund the excavation.

    “I am interested in an independent solution,” Mr Skidmore told MPs. “Consider my compromise, whereby even if Richard is buried in Leicester, his body might lie in state at York for a week.”

    York Central MP Hugh Bayley, said it was “too early” to make a deal ahead of his crunch talks with Leicester University, but said: “It is a constructive idea.

    “We should look at ways to 
bring together people from York and Leicester, rather than set them against each other,” he added.

    (Source: yorkshirepost.co.uk)

    Richard IIIs fans say a simple stone to mark his burial place is not fit for a king After his last resting place beneath a council car park, anything would be an improvement for Richard III. But following one row over whether his remains should be reburied in Leicester or York, a new dispute emerged yesterday over how grand the tomb should be. Despite calls for an elaborate memorial, it seems the last Plantagenet king will have to make do with something much more simple within Leicester Cathedral.  The cathedral’s design brief specifies a preference for ‘a place of simple dignity’ – an engraved memorial stone. It informs architects the church authorities would like to ‘mark the place of burial with a ledger stone’ which sits flat on the floor, possibly with a ‘decorative border’.  Anything more grandiose would be ‘disproportionate’. The new monument will be placed on the spot where a memorial stone commemorating the 15th century king currently sits within the chancel. ‘While the remains of an English king are of historical significance, it should not be forgotten that Richard demonstrated both the honourable and dishonourable characteristics of human beings,’ the brief states. ‘Opportunities for prayer and reflection should focus on themes of sin and redemption, justice and peace.’ Read more here.

    Richard IIIs fans say a simple stone to mark his burial place is not fit for a king

    After his last resting place beneath a council car park, anything would be an improvement for Richard III.

    But following one row over whether his remains should be reburied in Leicester or York, a new dispute emerged yesterday over how grand the tomb should be.

    Despite calls for an elaborate memorial, it seems the last Plantagenet king will have to make do with something much more simple within Leicester Cathedral. 

    The cathedral’s design brief specifies a preference for ‘a place of simple dignity’ – an engraved memorial stone.

    It informs architects the church authorities would like to ‘mark the place of burial with a ledger stone’ which sits flat on the floor, possibly with a ‘decorative border’. 

    Anything more grandiose would be ‘disproportionate’.

    The new monument will be placed on the spot where a memorial stone commemorating the 15th century king currently sits within the chancel.

    ‘While the remains of an English king are of historical significance, it should not be forgotten that Richard demonstrated both the honourable and dishonourable characteristics of human beings,’ the brief states.

    ‘Opportunities for prayer and reflection should focus on themes of sin and redemption, justice and peace.’

    Read more here.

    Dean of York goes to the police over Richard III hate mail The Dean of York has been forced to contact cathedral police after receiving hate mail about the debate over where the remains of King Richard III should be buried. The Dean of York, the Very Rev Vivienne Faull, is understood to have received a string of abusive letters as the row intensified over the remains of the monarch, who was killed in the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. The matter is currently being investigated by York Minster Police, the cathedral’s specialist force, but could be passed on to North Yorkshire Police if any more messages are received by Dean Faull. The bones of Richard III were identified in February after being discovered underneath a council car park in Leicester. The find, one of the most sensational in archaeological history, has provoked a major dispute over the where the remains should be interred. Read more here!

    Dean of York goes to the police over Richard III hate mail

    The Dean of York has been forced to contact cathedral police after receiving hate mail about the debate over where the remains of King Richard III should be buried.

    The Dean of York, the Very Rev Vivienne Faull, is understood to have received a string of abusive letters as the row intensified over the remains of the monarch, who was killed in the Battle of Bosworth in 1485.

    The matter is currently being investigated by York Minster Police, the cathedral’s specialist force, but could be passed on to North Yorkshire Police if any more messages are received by Dean Faull.

    The bones of Richard III were identified in February after being discovered underneath a council car park in Leicester.

    The find, one of the most sensational in archaeological history, has provoked a major dispute over the where the remains should be interred.

    Read more here!

    Richard III burial 'should not be finders keepers'

    archaeologicalnews:

    image

    The reburial of remains of Richard III should not be the subject of a “finders, keepers agreement”, York Outer MP Julian Sturdy has argued.

    York MPs are unhappy the University of Leicester, which excavated the remains, will decide where the King is re-interred, and not the government.

    …

    Richard III burial appeal for County Durham

    An appeal for the remains of Richard III to be buried in County Durham has been made in Parliament.

    Labour MP for Bishop Auckland Helen Goodman said Barnard Castle could be considered because the king lived for many years at the castle.

    The monarch’s remains were found under a car park in Leicester, following an archaeological dig last month.

    The most likely location for the burial is Leicester cathedral but York has also been suggested.

    Here we go again!

    MPs warned not to squabble over resting place of King Richard III

    MPs should not squabble over the final resting place of King Richard III, the Commons was told today - ahead of a debate on the issue next week.

    Sir Tony Baldry, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, said convention dictates bodies should be reburied in the nearest suitable church - in this case, Leicester Cathedral.

    The remains of Richard III were uncovered by a team from Leicester University last year, and they are currently holding onto the body ahead of a reinterment ceremony.

    Labour’s York Central MP Hugh Bayley has called for the king to be buried in York and will lead an adjournment debate on the issue on Tuesday.

    Read more here!

    Richard III’s descendants demand York burial: Nine of his descendants oppose plans to bury him at Leicester Cathedral next year The living descendants of King Richard III have joined the campaign to demand that his remains are reburied in York. The monarch’s 500-year-old skeleton was identified this month after it was found by an archaeological dig at a council car park in Leicester last year. Richard III grew up in the Yorkshire Dales and visited York several times in his 26-month reign. A petition calling for him to be re-interred there has more than 23,000 signatures. Despite this, his remains are due to be re-interred at  Leicester Cathedral next year.  In a statement, nine of his descendants – including his 17th-generation great-nephews and nieces and 16th great-nieces and nephews – said: ‘Richard III was the last King of the House of York. ‘We do hereby most respectfully demand that the remains of King Richard III, our mutual ancestor, be returned to the city of York for formal, ceremonial reburial. ‘We believe that such an interment was [his] desire in life and we have written this statement so that his wishes may be fully recognised and upheld. ‘King Richard III was the last King of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty which had ruled England since the succession of King Henry II in 1154.’ They continued: ‘We, the under-named blood descendants, unreservedly believe that King Richard is deserving of great recognition and respect and hereby agree to dutifully uphold his memory. ‘With due humility and affection, we are and will remain his Majesty’s representatives and voice.’ Earlier this month, city leaders in York said they were to write to the Queen and the Ministry of Justice  in a bid to get Richard III’s remains returned to his ‘spiritual home’. King Richard grew up at Middleham Castle in the Yorkshire Dales and visited York several times during his 26-month reign. Known as Richard of York before his coronation, he also funded part of the city’s medieval gated walls. The monarch’s links with the area are celebrated to this day, with a Richard III Hotel in Middleham, a Yorkshire-made Richard III Wensleydale cheese and a Richard III Museum in York. The Ministry of Justice has said the site was the University of Leicester’s decision because it had been granted permission to exhume the body. What do you think? Where should the remains of Richard III be re-interred? 

    Richard III’s descendants demand York burial: Nine of his descendants oppose plans to bury him at Leicester Cathedral next year

    The living descendants of King Richard III have joined the campaign to demand that his remains are reburied in York.

    The monarch’s 500-year-old skeleton was identified this month after it was found by an archaeological dig at a council car park in Leicester last year.

    Richard III grew up in the Yorkshire Dales and visited York several times in his 26-month reign. A petition calling for him to be re-interred there has more than 23,000 signatures.

    Despite this, his remains are due to be re-interred at  Leicester Cathedral next year. 

    In a statement, nine of his descendants – including his 17th-generation great-nephews and nieces and 16th great-nieces and nephews – said: ‘Richard III was the last King of the House of York.

    ‘We do hereby most respectfully demand that the remains of King Richard III, our mutual ancestor, be returned to the city of York for formal, ceremonial reburial.

    ‘We believe that such an interment was [his] desire in life and we have written this statement so that his wishes may be fully recognised and upheld.

    ‘King Richard III was the last King of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty which had ruled England since the succession of King Henry II in 1154.’

    They continued: ‘We, the under-named blood descendants, unreservedly believe that King Richard is deserving of great recognition and respect and hereby agree to dutifully uphold his memory.

    ‘With due humility and affection, we are and will remain his Majesty’s representatives and voice.’

    Earlier this month, city leaders in York said they were to write to the Queen and the Ministry of Justice  in a bid to get Richard III’s remains returned to his ‘spiritual home’.

    King Richard grew up at Middleham Castle in the Yorkshire Dales and visited York several times during his 26-month reign.

    Known as Richard of York before his coronation, he also funded part of the city’s medieval gated walls.

    The monarch’s links with the area are celebrated to this day, with a Richard III Hotel in Middleham, a Yorkshire-made Richard III Wensleydale cheese and a Richard III Museum in York.

    The Ministry of Justice has said the site was the University of Leicester’s decision because it had been granted permission to exhume the body.

    What do you think? Where should the remains of Richard III be re-interred? 

    (Source: Daily Mail)

    Body of ‘Ugliest Woman in the World’ returns to her birthplace in Mexico for burial more than 150 years after her death A woman branded the ‘ugliest woman in the world’ after a rare disease left her body covered in hair has finally returned to her birthplace in Mexico for a proper burial - 153 years after her death. Julia Pastrana was exploited as part of a traveling exhibition through Europe until she died from complications of childbirth in 1860. Even after her death, her body was exhibited across the world. It eventually ended up in a storage room at an Oslo research institute, and after learning of the body’s whereabouts, visual artist Laura Anderson Barbata campaigned to have it returned to Mexico. ‘I felt she deserved the right to regain her dignity and her place in history, and in the world’s memory,’ Barbata, who learned Pastrana’s story while working on a play about her life, told the New York Times. ‘I hoped to help change her position as a victim to one where she can be seen in her entirety and complexity.’ Barbata, who lives in New York but hails from Mexico City, eventually won her decade-long battle and on Tuesday, Pastrana’s body will finally be buried in Sinaloa de Leyva. Pastrana was born in Mexico in 1834 and suffered from congenital terminal hypertrichosis, which left her face and body covered in thick hair. She also suffered from gingival hyperplasia, which made her lips and gums thick. She was not diagnosed with either condition in her lifetime. In 1854, she was bought by a Mexican customs administrator and he began exhibiting her through the U.S. and Canada. While in New York, she married Theodore Lent, who became her manager. Historians believe that while she was in love with Lent, he only married her to control her earnings, the New York Times reported. Read more here.

    Body of ‘Ugliest Woman in the World’ returns to her birthplace in Mexico for burial more than 150 years after her death

    A woman branded the ‘ugliest woman in the world’ after a rare disease left her body covered in hair has finally returned to her birthplace in Mexico for a proper burial - 153 years after her death.

    Julia Pastrana was exploited as part of a traveling exhibition through Europe until she died from complications of childbirth in 1860. Even after her death, her body was exhibited across the world.

    It eventually ended up in a storage room at an Oslo research institute, and after learning of the body’s whereabouts, visual artist Laura Anderson Barbata campaigned to have it returned to Mexico.

    ‘I felt she deserved the right to regain her dignity and her place in history, and in the world’s memory,’ Barbata, who learned Pastrana’s story while working on a play about her life, told the New York Times.

    ‘I hoped to help change her position as a victim to one where she can be seen in her entirety and complexity.’

    Barbata, who lives in New York but hails from Mexico City, eventually won her decade-long battle and on Tuesday, Pastrana’s body will finally be buried in Sinaloa de Leyva.

    Pastrana was born in Mexico in 1834 and suffered from congenital terminal hypertrichosis, which left her face and body covered in thick hair.

    She also suffered from gingival hyperplasia, which made her lips and gums thick. She was not diagnosed with either condition in her lifetime.

    In 1854, she was bought by a Mexican customs administrator and he began exhibiting her through the U.S. and Canada. While in New York, she married Theodore Lent, who became her manager.

    Historians believe that while she was in love with Lent, he only married her to control her earnings, the New York Times reported.

    Read more here.

    Richard III set to be buried in Leicester as university makes final decision

    The decision on the final resting place of Richard III lays squarely in the hands of the University of Leicester.

    Officials at the Ministry of Justice stated categorically yesterday that the university alone has the power to decide where his bones are reinterred.

    The statement is likely to derail a campaign launched to take the remains from the Leicester to be buried in York.

    Council bosses in York said they would write to the Queen to state the city’s case and had started an e-petition, which yesterday had 6,500 signatures.

    But a Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “When applying for an archaeological exhumation licence, the applicant must state that the remains will be laid to rest at a suitable location.

    “The licence we issued states that the applicant (the University of Leicester) would, no later than August 31, 2014, deposit the remains at Jewry Wall Museum or have them reinterred at St Martin’s Cathedral or in a burial ground in which interments may legally take place.

    “The precise location of reburial is now for the University of Leicester.

    “This means that no one except the licence holder, i.e. the University of Leicester, can decide where the remains end up.”

    Richard Taylor, deputy registrar at the University of Leicester, said: “We have said all along that the remains will be reinterred at Leicester Cathedral and I can see no reason why that decision would change.”

    City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby has previously said the bones of Richard III would leave the city over his dead body.

    Speaking yesterday, he said: “The decision has already been made.

    “All the permissions have been granted and the various authorities involved have agreed that the interment will take place in Leicester.”

    The Church of England has welcomed the opportunity to house the remains and said keeping the bones within the parish of St Martin’s was the next natural step.

    Leicester Cathedral Cannon Chancellor David Monteith said: “There’s no question.

    “It seems rather apt to reinter the bones at Leicester Cathedral, considering that Grey Friars is in the ancient parish of St Martin’s.

    “That just follows good ancient burial practices.” The cathedral is in talks with a number of groups, including the Richard III Society, regarding a tomb.

    However, it must get permission from English Heritage and the Cathedrals Fabric Commission of England before any work to alter the interior of the building.

    Let battle begin: should Richard III have a State funeral at Westminster Abbey? - Dan Cruickshank says State funeral would be ‘splendid’ - But royal historian Hugo Vickers said Richard should stay in Leicester Historians today called for the remains of Richard III to be buried alongside other monarchs in Westminster Abbey. They believe a State funeral and reinterment at the abbey would be a more fitting honour for one of England’s most controversial kings than a planned burial at Leicester Cathedral. Researchers this week solved a 500-year-old mystery by confirming that remains found under a car park in Leicester were those of Richard, who died aged 32 in 1485 in defeat by Henry Tudor in the Battle of Bosworth. BBC TV presenter Dan Cruickshank told the Standard: “My feeling is that a royal funeral at Westminster Abbey would be splendid. To lose a king is pretty damn careless but when you find him not to give him a proper ceremony and burial would seem deeply remiss. It is an astonishing discovery given the unlikelihood of him turning up. “A State funeral would be a real moment to reflect and ponder the person - another way of bringing another bit of remote history back to life.” Historian Andrew Roberts said Richard should be buried alongside 17 other monarchs in Westminster Abbey. “The bones of the last British monarch to die in battle must now be treated with dignity and venerated properly, as is only right for a former head of State,” he wrote in the Daily Mail. Dr Suzannah Lipscomb, senior lecturer and convenor for history at AC Grayling’s New College of the Humanities in London, said: “ Monarchy has a special status in this country and by burying him in Westminster Abbey we would be treating those bones with the proper decorum.“We would also be taking him away from the place where he suffered his greatest defeat and was then humiliated. It would be a nice way to redress the balance.” As Richard III has already had a funeral, it’s really only a matter of re-interring the skeletal remains with ‘due dignity and respect’ in, as per the conditions of the license issued for this excavation, Leicester Cathedral. I can’t envisage the MoJ allowing him to be reburied elsewhere, but who knows, stranger things have happened! The MoJ certainly has prior form in chopping and changing its mind as to what is considered appropriate in terms of the excavation and retention of archaeological human remains, so I guess we will just have to wait and see what happens…You can read more on this story here and if you feel particularly strongly that Richard should remain in Leicester, you can put your name to a petition here!

    Let battle begin: should Richard III have a State funeral at Westminster Abbey?

    - Dan Cruickshank says State funeral would be ‘splendid’

    - But royal historian Hugo Vickers said Richard should stay in Leicester

    Historians today called for the remains of Richard III to be buried alongside other monarchs in Westminster Abbey.

    They believe a State funeral and reinterment at the abbey would be a more fitting honour for one of England’s most controversial kings than a planned burial at Leicester Cathedral.

    Researchers this week solved a 500-year-old mystery by confirming that remains found under a car park in Leicester were those of Richard, who died aged 32 in 1485 in defeat by Henry Tudor in the Battle of Bosworth.

    BBC TV presenter Dan Cruickshank told the Standard: “My feeling is that a royal funeral at Westminster Abbey would be splendid. To lose a king is pretty damn careless but when you find him not to give him a proper ceremony and burial would seem deeply remiss. It is an astonishing discovery given the unlikelihood of him turning up.

    “A State funeral would be a real moment to reflect and ponder the person - another way of bringing another bit of remote history back to life.”

    Historian Andrew Roberts said Richard should be buried alongside 17 other monarchs in Westminster Abbey. “The bones of the last British monarch to die in battle must now be treated with dignity and venerated properly, as is only right for a former head of State,” he wrote in the Daily Mail.

    Dr Suzannah Lipscomb, senior lecturer and convenor for history at AC Grayling’s New College of the Humanities in London, said: “ Monarchy has a special status in this country and by burying him in Westminster Abbey we would be treating those bones with the proper decorum.“We would also be taking him away from the place where he suffered his greatest defeat and was then humiliated. It would be a nice way to redress the balance.”

    As Richard III has already had a funeral, it’s really only a matter of re-interring the skeletal remains with ‘due dignity and respect’ in, as per the conditions of the license issued for this excavation, Leicester Cathedral. I can’t envisage the MoJ allowing him to be reburied elsewhere, but who knows, stranger things have happened! The MoJ certainly has prior form in chopping and changing its mind as to what is considered appropriate in terms of the excavation and retention of archaeological human remains, so I guess we will just have to wait and see what happens…You can read more on this story here and if you feel particularly strongly that Richard should remain in Leicester, you can put your name to a petition here!

    York fights Leicester for the right to bury Richard III

    A row has erupted between York and Leicester about which city has the right to bury Richard III’s remains.

    There are calls for a Leicester Cathedral interment, close to where he was found.

    However King Richard grew up in North Yorkshire, and York City Council is writing to the Queen asking for permission to bury him at York Minster.

    Ed Thomas reports.

    Check the video out now on the BBC!