PRESS RELEASE: Richard III Aston connection

Nigel Cripps of Aston Parish Church said, ‘There more be more supporters of Richard lll under the floor of Aston Parish than there are under the floor of Leicester Cathedral where they plan to be finally lay him to rest’.

The publicity around the discovery of the skeleton of King Richard lll who died over 500 years ago and the War of the Roses may seem a long time ago but in Aston there are reminders in stone of those troubled times.

Aston Parish Church has over three fine memorials that are testimony to this troubled episode in English History

The Arden memorial – The lady sharing the tomb top with Sir Ralph Arden (a relative of William Shakespeare) is Elizabeth Clodshale (born at Saltley), her husband was Robert Arden who was executed in 1452 for organising troops against King Henry Vl at the beginning of the last phase War of the Roses.

The Erdington memorial – Sir Thomas de Erdington wears a Lancastrian collar presented to them by King Henry V. Sir Thomas’s collar is damaged, the insignia is said to have been removed by his son when the house of York came to power because by marriage he was a Lancastrian and was in danger.

The Harcourt memorial – A fine memorial in full English armour (very rare) was completed in 1465, and stored for 17 years before being installed in Aston Parish church when William Harcourt died in 1482. Sir William is the nephew of the lady on the Erdington tomb. Sir William is wearing a collar of sons and roses that was given to supporters of the Yorkist King Edward lV

Richard lll was killed at Market Bosworth and there is a copy of the Harcourt memorial in the Battle Field visitor centre. There is another copy in the Royal Armouries in Leeds

Nigel Cripps of Aston Parish Church has asked, ‘Should Richard lll be buried in Aston? If he was he would be surrounded by his supporters’.

For more information contact Nigel Cripps [0121 382 9263]