The Battle Begins for Lottery Awards!

Leicestershire’s famous Bosworth Battlefield was where King Richard III fought and lost his final battle and his life in a defining moment in British history. The Heritage Centre, which commemorates and interprets the dramatic events of 1485, has successfully secured a place in the semi finals of The National Lottery Awards.

Members of the public now have their chance to vote for the flagship visitor attraction ahead of the finals being announced later this summer. Voting will begin on Tuesday May 31st and the three projects in each category with the highest number of votes will go through to the final round of public voting. Votes can be placed at: www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards or by phoning 0844 836 9712.

Bosworth Battlefield has been nominated for the category of Best Heritage Project for its groundbreaking revitalisation project. Lottery funding was used for the Bosworth Battlefield Revitalisation Project that has refreshed, modernised and expanded the 37 year-old heritage centre dedicated to the historic Battle of Bosworth Field. The project also involved carrying out a groundbreaking archaeological survey to locate the actual battlefield site, a puzzle archaeologists have been trying to solve for decades.

Now thanks to the project, the battlefield site has finally been pinpointed, and with the opening of an interactive visitors’ centre at the location, 48,000 people a year are able to enjoy the chance to learn more about the famous battlefield and how it shaped British history.

The interactive exhibition at Bosworth Battlefield Visitor Centre attracts visitors from around the globe, looking to re-live the historic battle of 1485. Inside they can try on armour, pull a longbow and see rare finds discovered during the archaeological survey, which made headlines around the world. The visitor centre houses the largest collection of 15th century cannonballs from any battlefield in Europe.

Set in the beautiful Leicestershire countryside, and close to Market Bosworth Country Park, the battlefield has so much to offer. As well as the visitor centre, there are falconry displays, local guided walks and living history events and a tea room for visitors to enjoy. The newly opened Battle of Bosworth Trail now provides an opportunity for visitors to mix exercise with history as they walk around Ambion Hill, visiting the interpretation points along the way learning key facts about the battle and bringing history to life. The trail offers two interpreted views across the actual battlefield site.

David Sprason, Leicestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults and Communities said: This is fantastic news for Leicestershire and I am delighted that Bosworth Battlefield has reached the semi finals. Lottery funding has enabled us to create a unique visitor experience that takes people right back to the time of the famous battle which has been so pivotal in shaping British history.

It’s really easy to vote and I want everyone to show their support for our battlefield and vote for it. It would be a huge accolade for the whole of Leicestershire if Bosworth was to win at the finals and it would be extremely rewarding for everyone involved in the project to receive national recognition for all their hard work. You can’t fail to be proud when you consider its significance as a turning point in our history. ”

Voting opens from 9am on Tuesday 31st May and closes at midday on Monday 20th June.

For further details and to place your vote please visit: www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards

Votes can also be cast by telephone (full details are available on the website above)

For more information about Bosworth Battlefield please visit: www.bosworthbattlefield.com

Find Out More

Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre is run by Leicestershire County Council and is the location of the award-winning exhibition, shop, Tithe Barn restaurant and Country Park. Bosworth Battlefield covers many fields, all of which are privately owned and not accessible to the public at this time. The battle which took place on 22 August 1485, brought an end to 30 years of English civil war, now known as the War of the Roses and saw the infamous King Richard III lose both his life and crown to Henry Tudor. The Battlefield includes a new exhibition telling the story of the Battle and looking at its impact on British history, which has been funded by an award from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Address: Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre and Country Park, Sutton Cheney, CV13 0AD
Phone: 01455 290429
Email: Bosworth@leics.gov.uk
Website: www.bosworthbattlefield.com