Battle of Bosworth site was wrong

Wed Oct 28 2009 17:00:05

The Battle of Bosworth Field was not fought where it was thought to have been, historians revealed today.

The 1485 battle that left Richard III dead on the field was waged about two miles away from the spot in Leicestershire, near Sutton Cheney, where it is currently commemorated according to Leicestershire County Council.

The exact location has not yet been revealed in case treasure-hunters are tempted to plunder it, a council spokesman said.

The council commissioned the Battlefields Trust to carry out a major study of Bosworth Battlefield to resolve some of the questions surrounding the War of the Roses battle.

A council spokesman said: "They found the site of the Battle of Bosworth in the last week. It's about two miles away from the (Bosworth Battlefield Heritage) Centre but it's still in Leicestershire."

The team carrying out the study found extensive evidence that cannonballs were used in the battle, the spokesman said.

He said: "This could have been the first use of cannonballs on a European battlefield. It is the earliest battle from which any have been found.

"It dispels the myth of them all killing each other with bows and arrows."

The public will be able to visit the new location of the battle after it has been announced, he said.

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