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HISTORIC EGHAM AND MAGNA CARTA HISTORIC EGHAM
Both the Magna Carta Memorial, and the Kennedy Memorial are located at Runnymede meadow, whilst nearby at Coopers Hill, is the Commonwealth Air Forces Memorial, which records the names of 20,000 airmen who died in the Second World War, and have no known grave. The 35 acre Savill Garden, situated on the edge of Windsor Great Park, contains an outstanding collection of flowers, trees and shrubs, whilst Royal Holloway College, part of the University of London, is located in Englefield Green. The College is one of the most outstanding Victorian architectural buildings outside London, and was opened by Queen Victoria in 1886 as one of the first colleges for women in the 19th century. MAGNA CARTA The name Runnymede is synonymous with the Magna Carta- England's great icon of liberty and first expression of human rights. In 1215, England stood on the brink of Civil War, because the Barons were increasingly provoked by the amount of taxes that the King was collecting in order to fund a series of unsuccessful wars in France, and by abuse of royal and feudal priveleges Tax collections were both arbitary and extortionate King John initially refused to consider a Charter, submitted by the Barons, limiting his powers, at which point the Barons marched on London. In an attempt to stop further unrest, King John agreed to meet his Barons at Runnymede to discuss the Great Charter. The Barons formed an encampment at Staines, and the King and his followers were resident at Windsor Castle,with the two sides meeting at Runnymede meadow. The outcome was a document known as the Articles of the Barons. It was the first time that an English monarch was obliged to adhere to rules of law, replacing vague Saxon laws. The initial meeting between King and Barons took place on 15th June 1215, and the Charter was finally approved by eight days later. The King could no longer act in a tyrannical manner to subdue the citizens of the country, nor dominate the Church. Amongst the rights documented in the Charter was the first law relating to weights and measures- "one measure of wine shall be through our Realm, and one measure of ale and one measure of corn, and one bredth of dyed cloth". Women also gained some limited rights- "No widow shall be distrained to marry ". The Charter guarenteed feudal rights, and regularised the judicial system, abolished many abuses of feudal tenures, guarenteed the liberties of London, and other cities and ports. It also prevented the arbitrary imprisonment of freemen, and protected the rights of heirs. The Charter gave extensive powers to the Barons who were to oversee compliance with the Charter. In 1216, during the reign of John's son, Henry III the Magna Carta was confirmed by Parliment. The Charter was further modified in 1297, during the reign of Edward I.Almost 300 years later in 1689, a Bill of Rights, confirming parlimentary authority over the Crown,was passed by Parliment, and contained many of the elements of Magna Carta. The rights established under Magna Carta have thus been given the force of law for over a period of seven centuries.
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Copyright
© 2001-2004 Egham Chamber
of Commerce |
Maintained
by Team Discovery
Ltd |
The
historic meadows of Runnymede, where King John put his seal to the Magna
Carta in 1215, lies within the former Egham Urban District Council, now
part of Runnymede Borough Council since April 1974. 