Currently under construction at Bosworth Battlefield is Ambion Parva - a replica Medieval Village. The village will include timber framed buildings that are replicas of vernacular homes, those for the common people, that would have been used between the 13th and 15th centuries.
As the site is still under construction it is only open on special event days.
The buildings on site include 'Captains Retreat', a two storey house with jettied crossway; 'Gunners Cottage' a cruck cottage and 'The Old Salt Road Inn' a Medieval ale house. Foundations have been set for the constuction of a Granary and many more buildings are planned, including a church, barn and other workshops.
All joints used in these buildings are authentic for the period and are created using traditional methods. The buildings have been erected on brick plinths to extend the life of the wooden frame bases which would otherwise rot. Traditionally they would have sat straight onto the ground.
The Captain's Retreat is a two storey construction in a box frame style – the box gave maximum internal space and could be extended easily. This is typical of Medieval homes in the Warwickshire / Leicestershire area. The weight of the roof is spread throughout the frame and the corners are locked together by wall plates and tie beams. This house is made up of two separate buildings creating a 13th century Hall.This is open to the rafters; the later 15th century cross wing addition, which is jettied, has two floors. The jetty construction means that the weight of the floor is counterbalanced by the weight of the roof above.
The addition and consequent change in use from a Hall with a central hearth to a house with private living quarters and a separate kitchen or solar was common at this time. The house also has a fireplace and chimney in the cross wing.
The Gunner's cottage is a cruck cottage and a lower status building with four massive timbers extending from floor to ceiling to support the weight of the roof. The wall timbers are less regular and reflect the use of materials as they were available; both new and reused.
A Medieval Inn would have been found in most Medieval towns. Ale and mead, the drink of choice, would have been brewed on site. Adults and children alike drank ale as a safer alternative to the dirty water.
Bosworth Heritage Centre has developed its own ale; 'Let Battle Commence' available for purchase from the shop.
