London - To clerics at Leicester Cathedral, it’s a 21st century tomb fit for a medieval king. But critics say the final resting place of Richard III looks more like a bike rack.
Richard, who was killed at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, will be reinterred at the cathedral after the his remains were found under a car park in the London city centre in 2012.
Dean of Leicester David Monteith unveiled a computer image of the tomb – and revealed next year’s reburial would cost £2.5-million. Marked with a deeply-incised cross, a block of Swaledale fossil stone will sit on a dark plinth of Kilkenny stone, carved with Richard’s name, dates, motto and coat of arms.
The dean added: “This tomb reflects the era in which it is designed. To do anything else would be a pastiche.”
However, MPs and art historians said it was not up to the job. Tory MP Tim Loughton said it was “a huge insult”, adding: “It is ghastly. It does look like a bicycle park slot.”
Philippa Langley, of the Richard III Society, said the group had suggested improvements to the design that were ignored.
Members of the society withdrew £40 000 in funding meant for the tomb.
Miss Langley, who was instrumental in the discovery of Richard’s remains, said: “This diminishes the king in every way.”
She said the design was “universally disliked” by members, and had been described as “a sculpture from a hotel lobby”.
Emily MarkFitzGerald, a lecturer at University College Dublin, tweeted: “Am I the only one who’s thinking ‘KitKat’?” - Daily Mail