Sundial, Bosworth Battlefield Centre - Sutton Cheney
Wars of the Roses (1455-1487)
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ContributeLarge stylised metal sundial in form of bill resting on metal wedge, with rusting crown balanced on head. Whole set within stone circular area with times marked off on ground and inscriptions running around the edge. Three stone, wooden and metal seats of differing heights signifying King Richard III, King Henry Tudor and Thomas Lord Stanley arranged around edge, with short wooden posts with other significant names arranged between. Whole within area planted with various bushes, adjacent to a large flag showing the white boar and white rose and other information boards.
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Inscription Reads
ON THE 22ND OF AUGUST 1485 OVER A THOUSAND
MEN LOST THEIR LIVES ON BOSWORTH FIELD
THIS MONUMENT COMMEMORATES THEM AND THE MANY
THOUSANDS WHO WERE KILLED DURING THE WARS OF THE ROSES
EARLY IN THE MORNING MEN PREPARE THEIR SOULS AND THEIR
EQUIPMENT FOR THE FORTHCOMING BATTLE. SOUNDS OF STONE ON
BLADES AND MURMURED LATIN PRAYERS ARE SOON DROWNED
OUT BY THE DIN OF THE DRUMS, CALLING THE MEN TO MUSTER
CANNONS BLASTING, THEIR SHOT SNATCHING MEN FROM
THE RANKS, STORMS OF ARROWS FINDING THEIR PREY
THE SURGE OF MEN TOWARDS THEIR ENEMY
THE RING OF STEEL ON STEEL AND THE DULL THUD
OF STEEL ON BONE. SPURS RAKE BACK IN A DESPERATE CHARGE
WITH VICTORY IN SIGHT. TREACHERY IS UNLEASHED. A KING FALLS
BODIES STREW THE FIELD, BLOOD SOAKS THE GROUND
AND THE SCREAMS AND MOANS OF THE INJURED FILL THE AIR
AWAY FROM THE CARNAGE A NEW KING IS CROWNED
GOD IS PRAISED FOR THE UNLIKELY VICTORY
AND THE TUDOR DYNASTY BEGINS
THE LAST OF THE PLANTAGENET KINGS, SLUNG NAKED
ACROSS A HORSE. A VICTOR LEADS HIS TIRED ARMY TO
LEICESTER AND A DAY'S DEEDS ARE RECOUNTED
THE DEAD KING'S BODY IS VIEWED BY THE MASSES
BEFORE THE GREY FRIARS PUT HIM TO REST