Archaeologists Find Lost Garden in Richard III Expedition

New evidence has been collected by the archaeologists from the University of Leicester on a mission for the lost grave of King Richard III. They found evidence of the lost garden of Robert Herrick - where, historically, it is recorded there was a memorial to Richard III.

Richard III is believed to have been buried in the city following his death at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485.

The archaeological search team spotted paving stones that stand as a great clue of the garden. The project that was initiated two weeks back involved digging of  two trenches at a council park- and this week a third trench was excavated. 

Last week they found the church and now the garden outside the church.

Philippa Langley, of the Richard III Society, said: "This is an astonishing discovery and a huge step forward in the search for King Richard's grave. Herrick is incredibly important in the story of Richard's grave, and in potentially helping us get that little bit closer to locating it."

In 1612, Christopher Wren, father of the famous architect, was visiting Herrick and recorded seeing a handsome three foot stone pillar in Herrick's garden. Inscribed on the pillar was: 'Here lies the body of Richard III sometime King of England'. This is the last known record of the site of King Richard's grave. Richard is historically recorded as being buried in the choir of the Church of Grey Friars.

Langley added: "The discovery of Herrick's garden is a major step forward and I'm incredibly excited. In locating what looks like one of the garden's pathways and, potentially, its central area which could have once held the three foot stone pillar marking the location of King Richard's grave, we could be that bit closer to finding the resting place of Britain's last warrior king."

The area of paving was found at its southern end in a haphazard pattern.