More than 1,200 people have visited DMU’s Heritage Centre to see the role that the university's historic campus has played in the story of Richard III.
The eyes of the world have been on Leicester following the reinterment of Richard III, and of the thousands who made their way to Leicester to commemorate the last Plantagenet king, many also made the short trip from Leicester Cathedral to DMU.
The heritage centre contains the restored arches of the Church of the Annunciation, where Richard III's body was displayed for three days after his death at the Battle of Bosworth.
Elizabeth Wheelband, Heritage Centre Co-ordinator, said: “It’s been really nice to see a broad mix of people visiting; we’ve had DMU alumni, followers of the Richard III story, and a lot of international interest as well which is great.
“People have been popping in to see what we’re all about and a lot of people have been saying they’d love to bring people here after seeing it for themselves.
“Everyone has been saying how impressed they are with the space, they’ve all been really enthusiastic and happy to see everything being open to the public. People have really loved the mix of history and contemporary work in the Heritage Centre.”
The Heritage Centre, which was unveiled by Vice-Chancellor Professor Dominic Shellard, is in the Hawthorn Building on The Newarke. It is open to the public every Tuesday to Thursday from 10am to 3pm.
More than 300 guests also attended guided heritage tours staged to coincide with the Richard III activities in the city.
The tours took visitors around DMU’s Trinity Chapel and Chantry House, finishing at the restored arches of the Church of Annunciation where Richard III’s body was displayed for three days after his death, and now form the centrepiece of the Heritage Centre.
The tours have now finished but Arts and Heritage team are working to arrange future tours for guests.
Elizabeth added: “We’re working towards getting more tours planned because they’ve been very popular; people have loved seeing the Trinity Chapel doors open.
“We’re also working with the Digital Building Heritage Group who have been working on a fly-through of the Newarke precinct."
The Student Gallery and the Temporary Gallery within the Heritage Centre will feature new exhibitions every six months.
The Digital Building Heritage Group, which previously digitally reconstructed Richard III’s lost tomb and Grey Friars Church, will be producing its newest fly-through for early summer, while the Heritage Centre team will be running a series of lectures. Details will be advertised on the university’s Events calendar in due course.
Posted on Monday 30 March 2015