Leir of Leicester – The archaeology behind the legend

The tragedy of King Lear, a mythical king of Britain, was famously retold by William Shakespeare but the legend of Leir of Britain is much older and directly connected with the founding of Leicester. In 1606, a year after Shakespeare wrote his play, the King's Men reputedly visited Leicester and it is possible they performed King Lear in the Guildhall. Join archaeologist Mathew Morris to find out more about Leicester's mythological founder and the archaeology behind the legend.