King returns to his castle!
King Richard III has made his triumphant return to Sudeley Castle & Gardens.
Unveiled today (Friday 4th April) by screenwriter Philippa Langley, who was the driving force behind the excavation of the Leicester car park in which his remains were discovered, the official 3D facial reconstruction of the controversial king’s head is now on show at the castle until the 15th April.
Announcing the arrival to a royal fanfare, Philippa said: “There is a real fascination for people to find the real King Richard III, so they can make up their own minds as to whether he really was the bad villain portrayed by some, or the good lord as described by others. To me he is just a medieval man and a medieval king and it this King Richard III that intrigues me.
“To be invited to launch his return to Sudeley Castle is an absolute honour. I have wanted to visit the castle for so long. Its connections to Richard III are so powerful that it is a must for every Ricardian. To stand in the ruins of the banqueting hall which Richard III built and see the white roses climbing the walls – it’s just breathtaking.”
The ‘official’ head as part of the ‘King in the Car Park’ tour will be at the castle until 15th April, allowing the public a chance to come face to face with one of England’s most important historical figures.
Richard III owned Sudeley Castle twice in his lifetime, first as Duke of Gloucester from 1469 and then coming into his ownership again on his ascension to the throne in 1483.
Lady Ashcombe, who owns and lives in Sudeley Castle & Gardens, said: “We’re thrilled to be hosting the reconstructed head of Richard III.
“The discovery of his remains last year sparked much interest in his intriguing story and as a king who played a special part in Sudeley Castle’s history, we look forward to sharing this with our guests as part of a special exhibition.”
The head, commissioned by the Richard III Society from the University of Dundee, was created using CT scans and photographs of the skull, combined with a specialist computer program to produce a digital image on which the physical head was based.
Sudeley Castle & Gardens is the last stop on the tour before the head returns to its final resting place in Leicester’s new King Richard III visitor centre, however a permanent Richard III exhibition will remain at the castle throughout the year.
The tour has been organised by Leicester City Council Arts and Museums Service following the work of the University of Leicester in retrieving and analysing the king’s remains, and will also be hosted by Gloucester Museum & Art Gallery.
Sudeley Castle & Gardens is located only eight miles away from the picturesque Broadway and will be open daily from 10am to 5pm from Monday 17 March. A season pass costs £20 for adults, single tickets cost £14 for adults, £13 for concessions and £5 for children. Children under 5 go free.
About Sudeley Castle & Gardens
Set against the backdrop of the Cotswolds hills in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Sudeley Castle & Gardens has played an important role in England’s history, boasting royal connections that stretch back over 1,000 years.
Inside, the castle contains many fascinating treasures from ancient Roman times to the present day. Outside, the castle is surrounded by award-winning gardens and a breathtaking 1,200 acre estate.
Explore Gloucestershire
6 April 2014
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