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.
The Society Shop contains books, postcards, prints and much much more. To see what is available to buy please view our catalogue.
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.
Please note that following a significant increase in US postal charges, all p&p rates for individual sales items have been updated. A new sales catalogue has been posted on-line and members are urged to check the p&p rates before completing their sales orders. If you are unable to do this, please contact E-Mediacy who will confirm the correct charge. A new sales catalogue will be included with the September Bulletin.
Pathé today released the first image from The Lost King, starring Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winning actress Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water, Blue Jasmine, Happy-Go-Lucky) in the lead role of Philippa Langley. Joining Sally Hawkins are Steve Coogan (Stan & Ollie, Philomena) in the role of Philippa’s husband, John Langley; and Harry Lloyd in the role of Richard III.
The film reunites the Oscar nominated and BAFTA winning creative team behind box office and critical hit, Philomena – director Stephen Frears and writers Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope.
The Lost King tells the remarkable true story of how one ‘ordinary’ woman discovered the long-lost remains of King Richard III. The film recently finished shooting in Edinburgh and Leicester and will be released in cinemas nationwide next year, the 10th anniversary of the discovery. more …
It is with great sadness that we have to announce the death of Clifton Martin. Clifton was our non-fiction papers librarian, and a hugely valued volunteer for the Society. Our condolences go to Clifton's family and friends, particularly his widow Kathy. We respectfully request that members wishing to access papers please be patient and not send in requests at this time. We will, of course, make the service available again as soon as possible.
The Board of the Richard III Society
The Barnet Museum is holding an exhibition commemorating the 550th anniversary of the Battle of Barnet. This festival was originally scheduled for April this year.
A range of interesting exhibits, such as a wax impression from the seal of Warwick ‘the Kingmaker’ and its engraved matrix, said to have been taken from his body after the battle, as well as loans from the British Museum will sit alongside replica heraldic banners – some of which will also bedeck Barnet High Street.
There will also be a production of a new play entitled The Fog of War based on the Battle of Barnet. This is being performed on the weekend of 18 & 19 September. More ….
The Board of the Richard III Society is carrying out a member survey, which will inform the Board’s strategic planning. Results will be reported in the December Bulletin and, if possible, at the October 2021 AGM. Members are being sent a printed copy of the survey or, if they have signed up for RIII Mailings, a link to the online version of the survey. Please watch for it and respond by 31 August.
The position of Events Coordinator is currently vacant. Whilst applications are sought for the permanent position, the Society is seeking urgent interim support with the planning of our forthcoming AGM and Members' Day. Use of a computer/printer and familiarity with Microsoft Word and Excel are required. A full handover will be provided. If you have events experience, or strong administrative/planning skills, and are willing to help, we would like to hear from you. Please contact the Secretary, Susan Ollier as soon as possible.
The Board of the Richard III Society
The winner is Georgia Tym, from Tormead School for her essay entitled 'To what extent was Margaret of Anjou responsible for the downfall of Henry VI in 1461?'
The judges commented: 'Georgia had assembled a good range of primary sources demonstrating a good understanding of the period, the sources and the historians, and her essay contained some impressive thoughts and analysis. It would be a good first year essay at university.'
The Chair of the Society, Matthew Lewis, commented: 'Very insightful and balanced'.
Georgia wins a cash prize of £200, one year's free student membership of the Society, and a signed copy of one of Matthew Lewis's books.
Congratulations Georgia!
* Now fully booked **
We are delighted to announce that our September 2021 Zoom event presentation will be given by Annette Carson. As previously, the event will be free to Society members. More …
Subject: The Mysterious Affair at Stony Stratford
Time: 14:00 (BST)
Date: Saturday 25 September 2021
As part of its mission to promote research into the life and times of King Richard III of England, the Richard III Society has published several aids for those researching late medieval and early modern English history. These publications are now out of print or otherwise difficult to obtain and so the Society has created a website to make digitised versions available online. It is intended to add more digital research resources from the Society as time goes on. We hope that this site will provide useful resources to teachers, researchers and students of medieval history. Visit www.ricardianresources.online.
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 …
• 25 September 2021: ** fully booked ** The Mysterious Affair at Stony Stratford' by Annette Carson on Zoom.
• 2 October 2021: Society Members' Day and AGM Merchant Adventurers' Hall, York.
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.