The remains of a medieval monastery where Richard III was buried, discovered under a car park in Leicester, is to be given protected status by the government.
Heritage minister, John Glenn, said: “The discovery of Richard III’s skeleton was an extraordinary archaeological find and an incredible moment in British history.
“By protecting this site as a scheduled monument, we are ensuring the remains of this once lost medieval friary buried under Leicester are preserved for future generations.”
Part of the site, including the grave, has been preserved within the new Richard III centre. However, many traces of the lost Greyfriars church and the friary buildings are believed to lie under the car park.
Making the friary into a scheduled monument means special consent is required before any work or changes can be made.
Richard III’s skeleton was found during an archaeological excavation at Leicester City Council's car park in 2012 and was confirmed as his remains following DNA analysis of the bones which matched that of living descendants.
The Greyfriars site dates back to the 1220s when Franciscan friars first arrived in Leicester, and it was at their church where Richard was buried in 1485 after the Battle of Bosworth which saw Henry Tudor become king of England.
Henry Tudor, who became Henry VII, paid for a simple tombstone to be placed over Richard's grave 10 years later.
The friary was dissolved in 1538 and the church demolished as the next king, Henry VIII, broke with the Catholic church in Rome, and the friary appears to have been knocked down during the following decade.
The honour of listed status has been given by the government on the advice of Historic England. Chief executive, Duncan Wilson, said the area to be scheduled had been carefully considered and would be managed through planning controls with Leicester city council.
PICTURE: The face of King Richard III at the Society of Antiquaries in London. © Gareth Fuller/PA
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