Battle of Bosworth field Lin and John A circular walk from Market Bosworth via Sutton Cheney, Battle of Boswoth Field, Shenton Steam Railway and the Ashby Canal Duration - 3½ to 4 hours Distance - 11 kilometres ( 7 miles) Circular walks around Leicestershire Written and published by Lin and John Blount.
Be safe walking - When ever you plan to go out walking it is a good idea to take some basic safety precautions as conditions can change during your walk and what may have started out to be a nice sunny day may turn out to be wet and cold. Make sure that you have the basics right Wear - strong walking boots that support your ankles plenty of layers of clothing (you can always take a layer off if you get too hot) Take with you - a compass and a map a waterproof jacket (preferably with a hood) a pair of waterproof over trousers gloves and a hat (a hat will keep you warm in winter and in summer it will protect against the sun) enough food to last your walk and take more than you think you need in case of emergencies a basic first aid kit, a torch and bivy-bag in case you or someone in your party gets injured. A mobile phone is also a good idea, just in case. You may never need all of these things but if you ever find yourself in an emergency you will be glad you took them with you. Although every effort has been made to ensure that this guide is accurate the reader should be aware that conditions can change and may vary with the season. 1
Directions from Leicester by car - Leave Leicester on the Hinckley Road (A47). Stay on for 1.3 miles. Enter the roundabout Hinckley Road (A47) and leave at the second exit onto Hinckley Road (A47). Stay on Hinckley Road (A47) for 2.3 miles. Follow the Hinckley Road (A47) for 0.81 miles. Leave Hinckley Road (A47) and turn right into Leicester Lane (B582). Stay on for 1.68 miles. Follow the Leicester Lane (B582) for 0.27 miles. Leave Leicester Lane (B582) and head straightforward onto High Street (B582). Stay on for 0.14 miles. Enter the roundabout B582 and leave at the second exit onto Manor Road (B582). Stay on Manor Road (B582) for 0.41 miles. Leave Manor Road (B582) and head straightforward onto Hunts Lane (B582). Stay on for 0.87 miles. Leave Hunts Lane (B582) and head straightforward onto Desford Road (B582). Stay on for 0.45 miles. Leave Desford Road (B582) and head straightforward onto Barlestone Road (B582). Stay on for 0.56 miles. Follow the Barlestone Road (B582) for 0.09 miles. Leave Barlestone Road (B582) and turn left into Bosworth Lane (B585). Stay on for 1.62 miles. Leave Bosworth Lane (B585) and turn right into A447. Stay on for 0.02 miles. Leave A447 and turn left into The Park. Stay on for 0.68 miles and park in the car park. Directions from Leicester by bus - Start from Leicester: St Margaret's Bus Station Bay 10. Take service 153 operated by Arriva Fox County. Finish at Market Bosworth: Barton Road (Church Street). From here it is a short walk down Main Street to Park Street and The Park where we start our walk. For more up to date information phone - Travel Line on 0870 608 2 608 2
Battle of Bosworth, The Battlefield Line Railway and Ashby Canal The Battlefield Line Railway - is the last remaining part of the former Ashby & Nuneaton Joint Railway which was opened in 1873. It runs from Shackerstone via Market Bosworth to Shenton in Leicestershire and is operated by the Shackerstone Railway Society. Contact details; For Talking Timetable - Telephone 01827 880754 or General Enquires - Telephone 01827 880754 19. As you approach the Ashby Canal you cross over a disused railway bridge (bridge No. 34a, photograph 19a). Here descend the stairs to the canal tow path (photograph 19b) and turn left following the tow path all the way to Bosworth Walf, a distance of 5½ kilometers(3½miles) passing under bridges 35 to 41 as you go. 19a. 19b. 20. At bridge No.42, leave the canal tow path and join the road, turning right and following it to market Bosworth town centre. 21. Walk through Market Bosworth town centre back to 'The Park' and the end of our walk. A Saddle Tank Steam locomotive at Shackerstone Junction Station Ashby Canal - 1794 saw the passing of the Act of Parliament authorising the building of the Ashby-de-la-Zouch Canal, and the canal opened throughout by 1804. Constructed mainly to carry coal from the pits in Moira and Measham area, it enjoyed only limited success. The railway mania of the 1830 s and 40 s did little for its fortunes and in 1846 the canal was sold to the Midland Railway for 110,000, a considerable loss against construction costs of 184,000. 3 King Richard s Well 12
tion, just take a break and have a cup of tea or have a meal, there are toilets here too. 17. On leaving the Bosworth Field Battle Site Visitor Centre, take the exit by the gift shop to 'King Richards Well' (photograph 17a and 17b) and follow the fence on your left through the picnic area and along the path to the sign labelled 'Shelton Station / Ashby Canal and Wildlife Walk (photograph 17c). 17a. 17b. It is possible to take a trip on a narrow boat from Sutton Cheney Walf along the picturesque Ashby Canal. For details contact; The Ashby Trip - Telephone 01455 213838 Battle of Bosworth 1485 - Before the battle, England was without a king, Edward IV died in 1485. His son, Edward V, was only twelve years old, so Edward IV had designated his brother Richard as Protector. Richard had Edward's two sons taken to the Tower of London, where they vanished, so Richard was proclaimed king as Richard III. It is not known what actually happened to the boys, but most likely they were killed. The mystery remains as to who killed them, and if it was done on Richard's orders. Richard had many enemies, and on 7 August, Henry Tudor landed near Milford Haven with about 2,000 French mercenaries and a handful of Lancastrian lords and knights. He gathered reinforcements as he marched through Wales, then through Shrewsbury, Stafford and Atherstone. Richard was at Nottingham, and moved from there to Leicester on 19 August, and by 21 August the two armies were facing each other about two and a half miles south of Market Bosworth. 17c. 18. At the sign, our walk turns left, following the sign to the Ashby Canal (photograph 18). However, at this point you can take a detour along to Shenton steam railway station which is just a short distance in the opposite direction. 11 18. Richard's army was just under 12,000 strong, but 4,000 of his troops were commanded by the Stanley brothers, whose loyalty was suspect. Henry had only 5,000 troops. During the battle Both the Stanleys changed allegiance to Henry, swinging the numerical advantage to his favour. The battle was fought on and around Ambion Hill, close to Sutton Cheney, and lasted only two hours. Richard had the better position, but did not take advantage by attacking Oxford while 4
he was still deploying his troops. This allowed Oxford to launch the first attack and the Duke of Norfolk, who was commanding Richard's forward battle division, was soon killed. For the first hour, the fighting was evenly matched, but Richard lost the battle through the treachery of the Stanleys, who deserted his cause. Even more damaging was of the Earl of Northumberland's failure to bring Richard's reserves into action when he saw the Stanleys go over to the enemy. Richard made a last attempt to win victory by directly attacking Henry with his personal guard, and almost succeeded, having cut down Henry's standard bearer. Richard's gamble failed, and he was struck down. The battle ended because his followers had no other definite leader. Richard was the last king of England to die on the battlefield. His death effectively ended the Wars of the Roses, and Henry VII started a new dynasty, the Tudors. King Richard III 5 the road into Sutton Cheney. 13. After passing by the Hercules coaching in, turn right into Bosworth Road and follow it as the road bears round to the left, signed 'Shenton 2' (photograph 13a). Continue along the road as far as Cheney Lane car park (photograph 13b). 13a. 14. Enter the car park and follow the bridle way sign to the gate at the bottom right hand corner of the car park (photograph 14). 15. Go through the gate and follow the line of the hedge on the right hand side. Go through the next two gates following the line of the hedge on your right hand side. 16. At the yellow post (photograph 16), go through the gate and walk in the direction of Bosworth Field Battle Site Visitor Centre. Here you can visit the Bosworth Field Battle exhibi- 16. 10 12. 13b. 14. Bosworth Field Battle Site Visitor Centre
of the hill and yellow post beyond (photograph 8c). Map - Ordnance Survey Explorer 233 Map not to scale N To Leic 20 Statio ester 21 n Ca d 1 2 Sutton lane 8b. 8c. 9. 4 5 La ne 7a th Pa ay ilw Ra ng wi Lane 13b 14 15 17c 17b Church View Point Route Direction 12. At the yellow post (photograph 12), walk straight ahead to the road at the bottom of the lane and turn right following 9 8c 10 9 11a 11b 12 13a road e Lin To Ambion 18 19b Key 19a Map Reference 1, 2, 3, etc. PC Public Convenience (References to descriptions in the guide) Car Park P 11b. 8b th wor d fiel l na Ca B os ttle Ba Sh en ton e Th y hb Shenton Village 6b 7b 8a 16 17a 11a. yl an e 6a As At the yellow post, enter the next field and continue to follow the line of the hedge on your left (photograph 9) to the opposite side of the field and yellow post. 10. At the yellow post, bear left fol- 9. lowing the well trodden footpath to the next yellow post. 11. At the yellow post, go through the gap in the hedge and walk 10M to the next yellow post (photograph 11a). Here, turn left (photograph 11b) and go straight ahead to the next yellow post. 3 eb Trees Built up area Railway line 6 Sutton Cheney Village
The walk 11 kilometres (7 miles), allow 3½ to 4 hours. 1. From the information board in the car park, head towards the pond and woods to your right (photograph 1). 2. At the pond, follow the path that leads from the left hand side by the large carved dragonfly to the yellow post (photograph 2) and joins the Leicestershire Round long distance footpath. 3. At the yellow post follow the direction of the arrow to the next yellow post (photograph3). 4. At the yellow post, follow the direction of the arrow to the next yellow post and gate (photograph 4). 5. At the yellow post, cross the stile and continue to follow the direction of the arrow (photograph 6a) to the next yellow post and stile (photograph 6b). 1. 6a. 7. 6b. At the yellow post, cross the stile and go straight across the farm track following the hedge of the house on your left (photograph 7a), down to the stream and farmers gate at the bottom of the field where you will see a yellow post on the left. 2. 7a. 3. Go through the gate and follow the direction of the arrow (it can be muddy here) to the next yellow post and stile. 4. 7 6. 8. 7b. At the gate and yellow post, go through the gap in the field and follow the hedge on your right (photograph 8a) to the next yellow post where the hedge ends (photograph 8b). At the yellow post, continue straight on across the field on the well defined path to the top 8a. 8