York is the county town of Yorkshire in the north of England, set on the River Ouse. It has been an important centre for centuries, starting in its time as the military capital during the Roman occupation Its name then was the Latin word Eboracum, that evolved from the old Celtic name Eburach, that mean “the field at the meeting of the waters” and “a place of yew trees”. This later changed to the Anglo-Saxon Eoferwic and then to the Viking Jorvic.

York became an archbishopric in the 7th century and was one of Europe’s great centres of learning in the 8th century. Its cathedral – York Minster – was destroyed after the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, but was rebuilt in its present marvellous form between the 13th and 15th centuries. In medieval times York, with a population of around 10,000, was England’s second largest city after London and was the centre of the wool trade as well as being famous for the mystery plays that were presented there each year.

When Richard became virtual lord of the North during the reign of his brother Edward IV and made his favourite home at Middleham Castle, he visited York frequently. After his coronation in 1483 his progress throughout his kingdom culminated at York where his son, Edward, was invested as Prince of Wales.

The first four letters of the Roman name, Ebor, form an anagram of Bore, the medieval spelling of Boar, which could account for Richard III, when Duke of Gloucester, adopting the boar as his personal emblem. In today’s terms, the boar is generally deemed a fierce unwelcome beast, but in medieval times was it highly regarded as a splendid animal that would do anything to protect everything in its care.

The loyalty of the York people to this son of York was proclaimed loud and clear when the news of the Battle of Bosworth reached the city in August 1485. The city register recorded the following:

“Were assembled in the council chamber where and when it was showed by divers persons … sent unto the field of Redemore to bring tidings from the same to the city that King Richard, late mercifully reigning upon us, was through great treason of the duke of Northumberland and many others that turned against him … was piteously slain and murdered to the great heaviness of this city.”

It was a grief-filled tribute from the people who knew and loved him best.