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Richard III tomb: Cathedral confirms £1m plan | Richard III tomb: Cathedral confirms £1m plan |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Richard III will be laid to rest beneath a raised tomb inside a remodelled Leicester cathedral. | Richard III will be laid to rest beneath a raised tomb inside a remodelled Leicester cathedral. |
The remains of the king, who died in battle in 1485, were discovered by archaeologists under a city car park in September. | The remains of the king, who died in battle in 1485, were discovered by archaeologists under a city car park in September. |
Church officials, who had originally favoured a simpler floor level slab, said the decision had been guided by responses to a consultation. | Church officials, who had originally favoured a simpler floor level slab, said the decision had been guided by responses to a consultation. |
The tomb area is part of a £1m plan to reinter the skeleton in May 2014. | The tomb area is part of a £1m plan to reinter the skeleton in May 2014. |
As well as the raised tomb, the exact design of which is yet to be finalised, the new plans will see a series of changes to the inside of the cathedral to create a "significant space", with a new floor, lighting and stained glass windows. | As well as the raised tomb, the exact design of which is yet to be finalised, the new plans will see a series of changes to the inside of the cathedral to create a "significant space", with a new floor, lighting and stained glass windows. |
'Big vision' | |
The Dean of Leicester, The Very Rev David Monteith, said: "We have listened very carefully to what the public have had to say. | |
"We have come to a view that a tomb which gives the sense of the volume of a human body seems to be important to people when dealing with a dead king". | |
He admitted raising money for the work, which includes raising and enlarging the altar, would be a challenge. | |
"But money follows vision and I think we have a great vision for the cathedral and Leicester has a great vision for honouring King Richard. | |
"Those two things combined I think will mean people will be generous and want to be part of this," he said. | |
'Absolutely splendid' | 'Absolutely splendid' |
The Richard III Society, which was involved with the excavation to find the king's grave, had said it was "appalled" over earlier proposals for a simple slab tomb. | |
But secretary of the society's Leicester branch, Sally Henshaw, felt the new design was far better. | |
She said: "I particularly like the circle the tomb is standing on, which is done in the shape of a rose. I thought that was absolutely splendid. | She said: "I particularly like the circle the tomb is standing on, which is done in the shape of a rose. I thought that was absolutely splendid. |
"The tomb needs a bit of work, we are not quite there yet, but it is early stages." | "The tomb needs a bit of work, we are not quite there yet, but it is early stages." |
Final designs for the tomb are expected to be approved in November. | Final designs for the tomb are expected to be approved in November. |
The decision to lay Richard to rest in the cathedral is being challenged by the group called The Plantagenet Alliance, which includes distant relatives of the king. | The decision to lay Richard to rest in the cathedral is being challenged by the group called The Plantagenet Alliance, which includes distant relatives of the king. |
A decision on a judicial review of the plans is expected in the coming weeks. | A decision on a judicial review of the plans is expected in the coming weeks. |