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
([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.