Tudor History at Athelhampton: The Battle of Bosworth Field
- Juliet Braidwood
- Aug 22, 2025
- 1 min read
Updated: Apr 16
At Athelhampton we remember that 540 years ago today it was the Battle of Bosworth.
On 22 August 1485, King Richard III was slain, and lost his throne to Henry Tudor, who would become King Henry VII.
Among those caught in the turmoil was Thomas Martyn of Athelhampton. Injured at Bosworth, he died soon after. His son William Martyn inherited the estate, and under the new Tudor King he became Sheriff of Dorset and a Royal commissioner.
The great oak front door with its ancient carvings and motifs are part of the story of Tudor history at Athelhampton, as Thomas began the building of the Great Hall before Bosworth. William, favoured by Henry VII (he received licence in 1495 to fortify and empark), completed it — giving us the hall (with its door) that we see today.
Every time you step through these doors, you walk in the footsteps of a family whose fortunes turned on Bosworth Field, 540 years ago.
