MIDLAND UNION OF NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETIES. 
179 
Riclimond landed at Milford Haven on tlie 6th of August, and 
marclied through Shrewsbury and Stafford (where he had an 
interview with Sir William Stanley) to Lichfield, he there encamped 
outside the walls, and next day entered the city in triumph; on the 
18th he came down with his army to Tamworth, being reinforced on 
the way by Sir Walter Hungerford and Sir Thomas Bouchier, who had 
deserted from Richard. At Coton Turn, close by Hop was Bridge and 
about IJ miles from Tamworth, Richmond missed his way and 
wandered towards Elford, his absence caused great uneasiness and 
consternation among his troops, but with the morning light he rode 
into Tamworth and passing up and down the lines reassured his 
followers. On the next day, the 19th, he pushed on with twenty men 
through a forest of Arden byeway, past Merivale Abbey to the out- 
woods at Atherstone, where in a meadow known as the Hall Close he 
met the Stanleys by appointment and finally arranged with them the 
traitorous plan that overthrew Richard. The Duke of Richmond’s 
army followed him from Tamworth and passed along the Watling 
Street through Atherstone and Manduessedum to the Fenn Lanes up 
which it proceeded to the White Moors near Shenton Windmill. 
You all know how Richard, betrayed on all hands and finding the 
battle going against him, drank at the well which still bears his name, 
then battle axe in hand bore down on Richmond in order to settle the 
conflict by a personal duel; however just as Richmond was in great 
danger from this sudden onslaught White Surrey stumbled and Richard 
fell—never to rise again. 
On the parapet of the tower of Tamworth Church, which is 
approached by the curious and unique double winding staircase, are 
two flat battlements, upon the east side and direction of Bosworth. 
It is supposed that these carried a mass altar on which Henry VII. 
had service performed every 22nd of August to commemorate the two 
incidents I have described—his separation from his army on the 18th, 
and his subsequent victory. 
In 1535 Henry VIII. determined on the dissolution of the 
monasteries, and among them ordered an inspection of Polesworth 
Nunnery, which had become the school for all young ladies of position 
in the Midlands, and bore so excellent a character that it was 
allowed three years’ grace, and was not finally dissolved until January 
30, 1539. 
The Ghost Chamber in Tamworth Castle owes its origin to this 
proscription of the Roman Catholics, who, compelled to practice their 
religious exercises surreptitiously and under heavy penalties, arranged 
their chapels so that in case of alarm the officiating priest should 
have ample means of escape, and the vanishing vestments of the 
ghostly fathers, if anyone approached, naturally constituted an 
admirable and well conducted spirit. 
But we must hasten on to 1643 when Charles I., at war with the 
Parliament, was engaged in civil strife, in which Tamworth again 
played an active part, and the Castle was occupied by the King’s party, 
