ARTEFACTS

Many of the artefacts said to have been found on the battlefield over the past 200 years or more are now lost, while most lack an accurate provenance. Of those that do survive a significant number of the weapons and items of equipment that have been identified in recent times have been shown to be of 17th century date. There are just a handful of finds which are or may be of 15th century date and relate to the battle.

A number of metal finds potentially related to the battle have been found in recent years on or in close proximity to the battlefield. These include a ferrule, possibly the butt end of a late medieval standard, found on Crown Hill, and a late medieval belt fitting for suspending a sword or dagger and a late medieval chape from the end of a sword or dagger scabbard, both from near Crown Hill. A systematic archaeological survey of the Bosworth battlefield has now been completed which has discovered new evidence of the battle and its location.  Further information about this and the finds can be found on the Bosworth Battlefield Survey pages of this website. 

BURIALS

In the early 16th century a chantry was established at Dadlington, said to be built on a parcel of ground where the battle was fought, to which it bodies of the slain from the battle ‘beth broght & beryed’. This is now interpreted as meaning the rebuilding of the existing medieval chapel in the village of Dadlington.

There are also various references to burials having been found on the battlefield in past centuries. Most are poorly located, none are securely dated and the association drawn between them and the battle by various authors has to be treated with care. The two most securely located discoveries are those from Dadlington churchyard and adjacent to and from Crown Hill, Stoke Golding. But even these may have non-battle related explanations.