Rich in history, Market Bosworth is perhaps remembered for it's association with the War of the Roses. The final battle in the 30 year war heralded a new king for England after the death of King Richard III. The Battle of Bosworth Field - 1485, saw Henry Tudor emerge as England's King Henry VII.
Market Bosworth however, dates back to the Roman era. Known then as Bosworde, archaeological finds have identified the town as a Roman settlement.
The manor house at Bosworth, originally owned by several Earls of Leicester later became the property of the Harcourt family. Sir William Harcourt sought to establish a market within the town and on May 12th 1285, Edward I, granted Harcourt the rights to a weekly market and fair.
In 1608, Sir Beaumont Dixie built Bosworth Hall. Now a rather unique hotel, the hall was occupied by the Dixie family for generations. In 1756, Sir Wolstan Dixie II took up residence in Bosworth much to the dismay of the locals. The Dixie's dominated local affairs immensely and Sir Wolstan himself seemed to be a person of varied character. He founded the Free School, which might have been a positive act had not one of it's former teachers recalled his time there, "With the strongest aversion and even a sense of horror."
It is also reported that Sir Wolstan installed within the grounds of the hall, a man-trap. This man-trap was intended to apprehend a young man who had designs on Wolstan's daughter. Sadly, his daughter Anne turned the man-trap into a woman-trap when she accidentally stumbled into it and severed her ankle. Death inevitably followed.
In 1885 and probably to the relief of many of Bosworth's citizens, the Dixie's estate was sold to Charles Tollemache Scott. Scott it seems appears to have been a commanding asset to Bosworth Hall. His restoration procedures improved the estate immensely as he replanted and restored the surrounding area.
Today the town of 2000 residents have much to be proud of, aside from the town's historical worth. The town centre is now a designated Coservation Area and repeated appearances in the national finals of the 'Britain in Bloom' competition serves to increase their pride. Two fairs are held in May and July each year. The July fair has now become a major agricultural event, attracting many visitors to the area.
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