Accroche-Coeurs : Leicester close than Angers to a Plantagenêt

As Angers, Leicester revives, on its own way, the Plantagenêt myth. But the success of the English approach looks close to a tangible result. 

Leicester university archeologists team says on September 7th they have made a new advance in their quest of Richard III, the last Plantagenêt king of England. A few days ago, they located, under the Greyfriars Leicester car park, the ruins of an old chapel destroyed by king Henry VIII, son of Henry VII, first English sovereign native from the Tudor dynasty who killed Richard III in the battle of Bosthworth in 1485. On Friday, they uncovered the marks of an old garden erected there after the Greyfriars church has been torn down.

Historic documents tell that in that garden was a pillar on which was written "Here lies the body of Richard III sometime King of England". An old map of the XVIIIth century displays the existence of a formal garden with a series of paths leading to a central point. It has also been considered that the remains of the Plantagenêt defeated king laid in the choir of the Greyfriars church.

The news stirs wide interest in England. An open day will take place on the site all September 8th for the public and the famous Channel 4 has already planned, what be the end of the diggings, to brodacast a documentary on the issue later this year. If Angers is not close to get the England crown jewels back, England is near to find again a Plantagenêt king. (Credit pictures : University of Leicester ; top : remains of the Greyfriars garden; bottom : stone frieze from Greyfriars church)