Magna Carta, the most important document of Mediaeval England, was the result of negotiations between feudal Barons and King John following the rebellion of many of the barons in 1215 against the excessive taxation arbitrarily levied by the King to fund his military campaigns in France. King John placed his seal (but did not append his signature) at the bottom of the draft form of it called ”Articles of the Barons”([1]) at a gathering with the barons at Runnymede, in the vicinity of Egham, in June 1215. From King John’s point of view Runnymede may have been chosen as a safe location for the sealing of the document as it was close to Windsor Castle, one of his residences, although there are some people who have believed that it might have taken place on Magna Carta Island (which is located in Berkshire in the River Thames across from the water-meadows at Runnymede).

On display:

Views of Magna Charta Island, drawn by George Orleans Delamotte, 1829:-

1.  Magna Charta Island.  From Cooper’s Hill

2.  Magna Charta Island. Looking towards Runnymede

3.  Magna Charta Island. From the Ferry Side

4.  Magna Charta Island & Cottage. From Fishing Wear looking towards  

     Runnymede

5.  Magna Charta Island. Looking down the Thames

6.  Ankerwyke Priory and Yew Tree([2])

7.  Magna Charta Island. Interior of  Cottage. With Barons Arms and  

     Magna Charta Stone([3])

 

Joan Wintour

July 2015

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([1]) It was from the clauses in this document that the Chancery produced the document which became known as Magna Carta.  It was subsequently revised a number of times and after the third and final amendment in 1225 by King Henry III it was confirmed in 1297 by King Edward I.

([2]) The Ankerwyke Yew is an ancient tree (thought to be at least 1,400 years old and possibly much older) in the grounds of the ruins of the Benedictine convent built in the 12th century on the small island of Ankerwyke near Wraysbury in Berkshire.  It has been believed by some that it might possibly have been the site of the oath-swearing to the document which was the basis of Magna Carta. 

([3]) Some people have believed that the document which was the basis of Magna Carta was sealed (by the Royal seal) on a stone slab called the Charter Stone.  The stone was kept originally in Ankerwyke House (first built by Sir Thomas Smyth in the 16th century) and eventually installed by George Simon Harcourt in the fisherman’s cottage he re-built on Magna Carta Island in 1834. Magna Carta Island, which includes the building erected by George Simon Harcourt, was put up for sale in 2014 for nearly £4m. The Charter Stone lies today in the specially-built Charter Room which forms part of the main house on the island.

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