Lovell House was named after Francis, Viscount Lovell who was certainly alive in 1485 because, from records, we know he survived the Battle of Bosworth and was seen leaving the field of battle wounded. He lived in a moated manor house in Halebank call 'Lovell's Hall!" He was a friend of King Richard lll and mentioned in Shakespeare's play of the same name.
The Rat (Sir Richard Ratcliffe), the Cat (William Catesby) and Lovell (Francis) the Dog, rule all England under the Hog. This was a popular rhyme of the day to describe King Richard's close friends.
The Hog was the white boar, the emblem that King Richard Ill used on his armour.
Nobody seems to know when Francis Lovell died (although bones were later found in one of the underground chambers of his castle many centuries later. They were thought to be those of Francis Lovell when he hid from Henry VII's army), but he was a powerful man with strong royal connections.
