The battle at Bosworth Field

In 1483, the Plantagenet and Yorkist King Edward IV died, and his nine year old son succeeded him as King Edward V.

A ruling council, set up to rule on the boy-King's behalf until he was old enough to rule in his own right split into two factions, both eager to seize control themselves. Edward's uncle Richard became Lord Protector, and the other key players vying for power were soon accused of treason and executed without a trial. Richard had his own motives though and Edward was soon imprisoned in the Tower of London while Richard worked on Parliament to declare the former King's marriage illegal, in order to deprive Edward of his right to be King. Richard, as brother of Edward IV, was quickly crowned King Richard III, but his schemes had made him many enemies along the way, and he was never popular amongst the people throughout his reign.

The exiled Henry Tudor, from the House of Lancaster, had a weak claim to the throne through his mother Lady Margaret Beafort's line, and as Richard's unpopularity grew, Henry began to raise an army from his base in France and prepare to challenge Richard.

The two came together at the Battle of Bosworth Field, the penultimate battle in the Wars of the Roses, on 22 August 1485.

Although Richard had more men, Henry, who was no great soldier himself, developed an advantage by ensuring he had some experienced generals in his army, and as the battle developed, their superior tactics soon trapped Richard, who was killed on the battlefield. Henry was almost immediately proclaimed King, on a hill now called Crown Hill, and he became Henry VII, the first monarch of the new Tudor dynasty.

Nowadays the location of the battle is marked by a modern visitor centre, with an exhibition, shop and cafe, and various activities such as falconry displays take place throughout the year. Lately the exact field of the battle has been disputed, and the academics now say the true site is probably a mile or so away from where the visitor centre is.

Bosworth is in Leicestershire, and we were in the area visiting relatives in nearby Bedworth, across the border in Warwickshire. Walking through the woodland paths, we came across the station at nearby Shenton, at the end of a preserved steam railway line. We arrived just in time to see the appropriately named Henry, one of Thomas the Tank Engine's friends, bringing in the last passenger train of the day, before moving round to the back of his carriages ready for the return journey.