Richard of Eastwell facts for kids
Richard Plantagenet (born around 1469 – died 22 December 1550) was a quiet bricklayer. Some people believed he was a secret son of King Richard III, the last king from the Plantagenet family.
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A Mysterious Childhood
Richard's early life was a bit of a mystery. He lived with a Latin teacher until he was about 15 or 16 years old. He didn't know who his real parents were. However, a secret gentleman visited him four times a year. This person paid for Richard's schooling and care.
One day, the gentleman took Richard to a "fine, great house." There, Richard met a man wearing a "star and garter" who was very kind to him. This man was King Richard III.
Meeting the King
When Richard was 16, the gentleman took him to see King Richard III again. This was just before a big battle called the Battle of Bosworth. The King told the young Richard that he was his son. He told him to watch the battle from a safe place.
The King said that if he won the battle, he would tell everyone that Richard was his son. But if he lost, Richard should keep his identity a secret forever. Sadly, King Richard III was killed in the battle. The young Richard then fled to London.
A New Life as a Bricklayer
After the battle, Richard became an apprentice to a bricklayer. This meant he learned the trade of building with bricks. Even though he was working, he kept up his Latin skills by reading whenever he could.
Years later, around 1546, Richard was an old man. He was working as a bricklayer at a place called Eastwell Place. The owner, Sir Thomas Moyle, found Richard reading. Richard then shared his amazing story with Sir Thomas.
Sir Thomas Moyle offered Richard a job managing the house's kitchens. But Richard liked his quiet life. Instead, he asked to build a small, one-room house on Sir Thomas's land. He wanted to live there until he died. Sir Thomas agreed to his wish. Today, a building called "Plantagenet Cottage" still stands where his house was.
Some people have wondered if this Richard Plantagenet could have been Richard, Duke of York. He was one of the two young princes who disappeared from the Tower of London a long time ago.
Finding the Story Again
Richard's story was almost forgotten, but it was found again! His burial record was discovered in church papers around 1720. A man named Heneage Finch, 5th Earl of Winchilsea, found it while looking into his own family history. He shared the story and his family's traditions about Richard with others.
The burial record in the Eastwell Parish Register says: "Rychard Plantagenet was buryed on the 22. daye of December, anno ut supra. Ex registro de Eastwell, sub anno 1550." This means Richard Plantagenet was buried on December 22, 1550. Experts believe the handwriting is real and not a fake.
Local Legends
In 1861, a writer named John Heneage Jesse wrote about King Richard III. He mentioned that when important people were buried at Eastwell, a special mark was put next to their name in the burial records. This special mark was next to Richard Plantagenet's name.
Even today, people in Eastwell are curious about his story. There's a well in Eastwell Park that is still called by his name. People also point to an unmarked tomb in the old churchyard as his final resting place.
However, it's important to know that the tomb people point to today is not actually Richard Plantagenet's. It was built for Sir Walter Moyle, who died in 1480. The church where this tomb is, St Mary's, Eastwell, is now a ruin. A charity called the Friends of Friendless Churches takes care of it.
Richard in Books
Richard Plantagenet's interesting life has inspired many stories:
- A poem called Richard Plantagenet a legendary tale was written by Thomas Hull in 1774. It tells Richard's story from his own point of view.
- Several books for young people have been written about him, including:
- The Sprig of Broom (1971) by Barbara Willard. This is part of her "Mantlemass" series.
- The King's Son by Darren Harris.
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