The site of the council car park that was the resting place of Richard III for over 600 years has been granted protection by the Government.

The English monarch’s skeleton was found under the Leicester City Council car park in 2013 and moved to the city’s Grade II listed cathedral in 2015.

The remains of the monarch, who was killed in the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, were uncovered during an archaeological excavation of the 13th century monastic site of Greyfriars which sits beneath the car park.

The car park’s site has been granted protection by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on the advice of Historic England.

‘We’re very proud of Leicester’s rich history, which spans over 2,000 years. The discovery and identification of King Richard III’s remains was a remarkable achievement,’ said city mayor Peter Soulsby.

‘These events marked an unforgettable time for our city. We’ve already honoured this discovery with a world-class tourist attraction in the King Richard III visitor centre and the scheduling of this site will help to ensure this remarkable discovery is protected for future generations to enjoy.’

Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England said: ‘The site of Greyfriars where Richard III was hastily buried in the days following his death in the final battle of the War of the Roses is one of the most significant in our national history.

‘The archaeological remains on the site are now well understood and fully deserve protection as a scheduled monument.

‘The area of protection has been carefully considered and will be managed through both scheduling and planning controls in partnership with Leicester City Council.

‘The aim is to ensure that this important site can be protected for future generations as a tangible and evocative reminder of this significant episode in our nation’s history.’

Image: tornadoflight / Shutterstock.com.