King Lear: King of Leicester with Mathew Morris

Join archaeologist Mathew Morris for a fascinating journey into one of Leicester’s most enduring myths, the story of King Leir, the city’s legendary founder whose tale inspired Shakespeare’s King Lear.

This talk uncovers the real archaeological evidence behind the legend, explores how Geoffrey of Monmouth shaped Britain’s early mythic history, and reveals what excavations tell us about Leicester’s origins, and its identity. From Roman ruins to medieval imaginations, discover how fact and fiction intertwine beneath the city’s streets, and why the tale of Leir still captures Leicester’s imagination today.