Runnymede and Egham

Runnymede is synonymous with the words ‘Magna Carta’ as this was the place on 15 June 1215 that King John agreed to have the ‘Great Charter’ sealed. This event has later become recognised as one of the most important events in English history as it marked the road to individual freedom, parliamentary democracy and to the supremacy of law. In acknowledgement of this, Runnymede Borough Council, Surrey County Council, National Trust, Royal Holloway, Brunel University and associated stakeholders are currently finalising a local events programme aimed at celebrating the 800th anniversary in Runnymede.

Monday 15 June 2015 – The official ceremony: Magna Carta Foundation of Liberty

An official ceremony to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta will take place on Runnymede Meadows on 15 June 2015. Surrey County Council and the National Trust are the main organisers for this event. Further details will be provided on this page once they are confirmed.

Local anniversary events

• Chertsey Museum’s Freedom Under the Law exhibition, 31 January 2015 – 31 December 2015 (Runnymede Borough Council and Olive Matthews Trust). Click here for more information. 
• Magna Carta Community Talks, 11 February – 15 June 2015 (Runnymede Borough Council and Egham Museum). Click here for more information.
• Egham Town Centre Volunteers Week, 24 – 27 February 2015 (Runnymede Borough Council and Royal Holloway). Click here for more information.
• David Starkey Lecture and book signing at Guildford Cathedral on 22 April (Surrey County Council, Guildford Cathedral). Click here for more information.
• Freedom Games Community Concert at the Royal Albert Hall, 12 May 2015 (Surrey County Council). Click here for more information.
• Thorpe Magna Carta celebration, Thorpe Village, 16 May 2015
• Surrey/Runnymede Magna Carta 800 anniversary themed garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, 19 – 23 May 2015. (Surrey County Council and the Runnymede Hotel). Click here for more information.
• Pop-up Visitor Centre, 1 June – 29 August 2015 including satellite displays and a strong online presence (Runnymede Borough Council and Egham Museum). Click here for more information.
• Sports Festival, 2 – 12 June 2015 (Runnymede Borough Council and Royal Holloway). Click here for more information.
• Surrey Ethnic Minority Forum Magna Carta youth project to be on display in Guildford Cathedral in early June (Surrey Ethnic Minority Forum, Surrey County Council, and Guildford Cathedral). Click here for more information.
•4th June: Professor Nigel Saul Lecture, ‘Magna Carta and the Rule of Law,‘ at Chertsey Hall.
•6th June: Medieval market at Staines – upon – Thames.
• Music Festival, 7 – 15 June 2015 (Runnymede Borough Council and Royal Holloway).Click here for more information.
• 10th June: Anthony Barnett Lecture, ‘A Modern Magna Carta’, at the United Church of Egham.
• ‘Strike a Blow for Democracy’ Church bells will ring out from towers in Runnymede 12 -15 June 2015
Contact Malcolm Loveday for more information on 01932 561576
• Flower Festival, 12 – 16 June 2015 (Runnymede Borough Council and Royal Holloway). Click here for more information.
•13th June: Egham Magna Carta Day. This town tradition will feature a food and wine festival as well as an evening fireworks display at Strode’s College.
•13th: A Barons’ Gathering, at Lammas Recreation Park. This free vent celebrates the little – known fact that many of the Magna Carta Barons assembled in Staines – upon – Thames before travelling to Runnymede.
• Street Theatre, 13 and 14 June 2015 (Runnymede Borough Council and Royal Holloway). Click here for more information.
• 13th and 14th JuneMagna Carta 800th – The River Relay, by Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Runnymede Borough Council and Spelthorne Borough Council commissioning Thames Alive. Click here for more information.
• Magna Carta 800th – The Pageant, 14 June 2015 (Runnymede Borough Council commissioning Past Pleasures). Click here for more information.
•14th June: The unveiling of a 10 foot commemorative statue of HM the Queen Elizabeth II beside the River Thames at Runnymede.
• Great Charter Festival, 14 June 2015 (Surrey County Council & Royal Holloway). Click here for more information.
•15th June: ‘Magna Carta and Contemporary Human Rights‘ Lecture at United Church of Egham. Tim Hancock, Director of Chief Executive’s Office, Amnesty International UK.
• Beacon lighting, St Ann’s Hill at 8pm. 14 June 2015. Click here for more information.
• Magna Carta Chronicle exhibition, purchased for permanent display at Egham Library (Surrey County Council). Click here for more information.
• Magna Carta Woman’s Collage Exhibition – An exhibition which looks at the journey of British women over the last 800 years since the sealing of Magna Carta. (Tracy Satchwill, Royal Holloway, Surrey County Council, Brunel University, Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead). Click here for more information.
• ABA Law & Legacy Exhibition (American Bar Association, Royal Holloway, Surrey County Council, and Runnymede Borough Council)
16 – 26 June at Woking Library and 29 June – 10 July at Runnymede Borough Council. Click here for more information.
• 28th June – Magna Carta Egham Regatta between Magna Carta Island and Ankerwycke Priory. Click here for more information.
• Guildford Cathedral commemorative programme of events from June – August 2015, including the display of the Salisbury Magna Carta facsimile, contemporary art installation projects by the Surrey Ethnic Minority Forum, the Magna Carta Quilts and Tapestry project (Surrey County Council, and Guildford Cathedral). Click here for more information.
• Magna Carta & Historic Surrey – Information Display and Lincoln facsimile exhibition (Surrey County Council). Click here for more information.

Other local projects

• Magna Carta Lace exhibition by community learners (Surrey County Council)
• Magna Carta Embroidery (Rhoda Nevins and Runnymede Borough Council). Click here for more information.
• Magna Carta souvenir edition Runnymede Borough Guide (Runnymede Borough Council)
• Guided walks and tours (National Trust and Royal Holloway)
• An education programme for local schools (Egham Museum and Heritage Lottery Fund). Click here for more information.

Legacy projects

• ‘Runnymede Explored’ smartphone application – due for launch in early April (Royal Holloway, the National Trust, Surrey County Council, and Runnymede Borough Council). Click here for more information.
• The Leverhulme Magna Carta Doctoral Centre for Individual Freedom. Through the generous support of The Leverhulme Trust, Royal Holloway, University of London has created the Centre which will enable a team of doctoral students to work, across disciplinary boundaries, to generate research, thinking and public debate about the relevance of Magna Carta today. Click here for more information.
• Runnymede Meadows, Ankerwycke and Runnymede Pleasure Ground site improvement projects to provide a better visitor offer (Surrey County Council, National Trust, Runnymede Borough Council, Royal Holloway, and Brunel University).
• Spreading the Word Competition (Runnymede Borough Council). Click here for more information.
• Magna Carta themed ‘Question Time’ with local students (Egham Museum and Runnymede Borough Council). Click here for more information.

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