The Richard III Society
Promoting research into the life and times of Richard III since 1924
Patron: HRH The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO
Richard III by Andrew Jamieson,
© Richard III Society.
Welcome to the website of the Richard III Society. We have been working since 1924 to secure a more balanced assessment of the king and to support research into his life and times. The rediscovery of his grave and reburial in Leicester Cathedral have raised the king's profile and provided us with new opportunities to make the case for a reappraisal of his life and role in history.
In the belief that many features of the traditional accounts of the character and career of Richard III are neither supported by sufficient evidence nor reasonably tenable, the Society aims to promote, in every possible way, research into the life and times of Richard III, and to secure a reassessment of the material relating to this period, and of the role of this monarch in history.
"… the purpose—and indeed the strength—of the Richard III Society derives from the belief that the truth is more powerful than lies; a faith that even after all these centuries the truth is important. It is proof of our sense of civilised values that something as esoteric and as fragile as reputation is worth campaigning for." Our Patron - the present Richard, Duke of Gloucester. more …
Visit the membership section to learn more about how to join the Society. Membership starts from as little as £12 per year.
The Ricardian is the academic journal of the Richard III Society. Since 2002 it has been published as an annual journal. Many of the editions and articles are now available online through the Ricardian Online website.
The Ricardian Bulletin, the Society’s quarterly members’ magazine, publishes a number of historical articles in each issue. The current selection can be accessed here.
Introductory Reading list.
Online Ricardian Resources
The Barton Library contains hundreds of titles, both non-fiction and fiction that are available for members to borrow. For more information click here.
The Society has a Privacy Policy and you can view it here.
We will sometimes send out emails with the latest news, or information about events we think may be of interest to you. Any member wishing to join, or re-join, our mailing list should e-mail our Web Content Manager, Katie Dungate confirming their wish to be added to the list and providing their Membership Number details. Please note that the mailing list is available to Society members only, and your contact details will not be provided to any third parties.
'A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreement with the University of Leicester regarding the appropriate use of the images of King Richard’s remains has been obtained. Following a meeting with the University on 29th July 2016 to discuss the use of images, Philippa and I are pleased to announce that the MoU between our two organisations has now been signed and is published here.'
Society Chairman.
Read full statement.
We are delighted to announce that February’s Zoom presentation will be given by Joanna Laynesmith. As always, the event will be free to Society members. More …
Subject: The Unsung Heroines of the Wars of the Roses.
Time: 14:00 (GMT)
Date: Friday 11 February 2022
I would like to reach out to teachers of children aged 11-14 to discuss a project based on the early life of Richard, duke of Gloucester which will satisfy criteria at Key Stage 3 in the History National Curriculum for England. The intention is to develop one or more introductory lesson plans on his life and times and then invite children to use these as stimuli for a creative project. My personal teaching experience is wholly with KS4 and 5, hence my request for help from professionals with the relevant KS3 expertise. If you are able to help, please contact Iain Farrell.
Iain Farrell
Education Officer.
Leicester Cathedral have informed us that they will be closed to the public from 3rd January 2022 when they hand over the site to their contractors in order for their new Heritage Learning Centre to be built. It is expected that the centre will open in early 2024. Obviously this will impact anyone wishing to visit King Richard's tomb. The Cathedral have said that they would love to welcome as many Ricardians as possible for a last visit before the closure: opening times. It is hoped that the Cathedral will reopen to the public on 29th September 2023, with their education centre opening in early 2024. more …
The Board of the Richard III Society.
A small gold book has been discovered by a metal detectorist near York, on land near a property once owned by Richard III. The piece, measuring just 1.5cm long, was found by Buffy Bailey whilst out metal detecting with her husband, and is believed to be from the late medieval period. ‘The similarities to the Middleham Jewel are striking,’ said Matt Lewis, Chair of the Richard III Society. ‘The possibility that it belonged to the same family, perhaps the same person, make it even more intriguing.’ This is an exciting discovery and an exquisite addition to our tangible links of our medieval past. We will look forward to further study of the object and the stories it will be able to tell us of its past, and ours. more ….
* Now fully booked **
We are delighted to announce that January’s Zoom presentation will be given by Joe Robey. As previously, the event will be free to Society members. More …
Subject: The World of Richard III
Time: 14:00 (GMT)
Date: Saturday 22 January 2022
It is with deepest regret that we have to share the unhappy news of the passing of Gretel Jones and Pauline Pogmore Harrison. Gretel had only recently stepped down from the Board and from her role as Secretary to the Richard III and Yorkist History Trust, after many years of dedicated service. Pauline was a stalwart of the Society and was for many years the Secretary of the Yorkshire Branch. In 2016 she was presented with the Robert Hamblin Award for her years of loyal service to the Society and the Ricardian cause. We send our deepest condolences to Gretel's and Pauline's family and friends. They will both be greatly missed. more ….
The Board of the Richard III Society
The Richard III Society is once again offering a prize of £200 for the best essay from sixth form students on a topic relevant to 'The Life and Times of Richard, Duke of Gloucester (Richard III) 1452-85'. There will be a second prize of £100 and a third prize of £50.
We are open to receiving entries in the format of NEAs, EPQs or closely similar, well-researched and referenced essays of between 3,000 and 5,000 words by a student under the age of 19. Essays may be submitted on any date up to and including 31st May 2022. more ….
We are delighted to announce our presentation in December will be given by Patrick Parsons. Patrick is currently a Tutor of History in the Centre for Lifelong Learning, University of Strathclyde. He is a graduate of History from the University of Glasgow but also studied Archaeology and undertook his postgraduate studies in Early Medieval History at the University of York. As previously, the event will be free to Society members. More …
Subject: Richard III and the Mask of Command
Time: 14:00 (GMT)
Date: Friday 10 December 2021
See all What's New items.
Question: What took three years, untold amounts of grit and graft, and produced a glittering result?
Answer: Philippa Langley's quest for the lost grave of Richard III.
Many, including academics and archaeologists – not to mention the media – are still reeling from a success that can only be called stunning!
Philippa Langley next to the grave.
Philippa Langley knew King Richard III had been 'piteously slain' at Bosworth Field. And she knew the Franciscan Friars of Leicester had laid him to rest in a simple grave. But where to look? Was he still there? And would they let her try to find him?
On 25 August 2012 Philippa Langley's quest for the lost grave of Richard III finally came to fruition!
Find out more …
The Looking for Richard team have compiled some frequently asked questions about the project that found King Richard's final resting place in 2012.
Learn more about Philippa’s exciting new research project, and how you can help.
Read the Reburial Diary and Events held by the Society during the historic week in March 2015 and first anniversary in March 2016.
Updated versions of some of John's Powerpoint presentations are available on his web site where you can download them.
We are extremely disappointed that Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council have decided to take the very short-sighted decision to grant permission for Horiba Mira to build on part of the registered battlefield of Bosworth, putting financial concerns above the history and heritage of this country. We will be consulting with our friends and colleagues in the Battlefields Trust over the next few days to decide on our next course of action. In the meantime, we would like to express our gratitude to the many hundreds of people who have supported us in our campaign to save the battlefield. Thank you!
The open letter written to the Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council Planning Committee is available to view here.
John Morton's will transcript
In the June 2019 issue of the Ricardian Bulletin Dr Betty Knott wrote about the will of Cardinal John Morton. This article originated from Philippa Langley's The Missing Princes Project.
Space restrictions meant we were unable to include the full will in both its Latin and English form. However, these are available online in Latin version and English translation, and on the website of The Missing Princes Project.
The Society’s long-awaited education website on the life and times of Richard III, entitled ‘Wars of the Roses’ is now live. The website has been developed by Iain Farrell, the Society’s Education Officer, with the support of the Society’s Research Officer, Joanna Laynesmith.
The content of the website has been guided by the needs of teachers and exam providers to develop in pupils and students the critical analysis of sources and differing interpretations to reach a considered view of events in the distant past. More …
• 10 December 2021: 'Richard III and the Mask of Command' by Patrick Parsons on Zoom.
• 22 January 2022: 'The World of Richard III' by Joe Robey on Zoom. * Now fully booked *
• 11 February 2022: 'The Unsung Heroines of the Wars of the Roses' by Joanna Laynesmith on Zoom.
'The slaying of Patroclus by Hector'
Royal MS 18 D.ii.f66v,© British Library.
Find out more about events organised by Society Branches and Groups in your local area and beyond.
The list of venues which offer discounted entry rates for holders of a Richard III Society membership card.