A meadow on the S bank of the R Thames, Surrey, SE England, UK; 7 km/4 mi SE of Windsor, near Egham; here, or on Magna Carta Island in the river, King John signed the Magna Carta (1215); Commonwealth Air Forces war memorial (1953), Kennedy memorial; owned by the National Trust since 1931.
Runnymede is a water-meadow alongside the River Thames in the county of Surrey, England, associated with the signing of the Magna Carta and today site of a collection of memorials.
History
The water-meadow at Runnymede is the most likely location at which, in 1215, King John sealed the Magna Carta, and the charter itself indicates Runnymede by name. It has been disputed whether the ceremony took place actually in the meadow, or on Magna Carta Island, a small (and now private) island in the Thames adjacent to the meadow, or at Ankerwycke, an ancient place adjoining Magna Carta Island on the far bank.
Twenty miles southwest of London, Runnymede Meadow, with adjoining lands totalling 182 acres, was presented to the National Trust by the first Lady Fairhaven and her two sons in memory of Urban Hanlon Broughton in 1929.
Description
Runnymede is an attractive riverside meadow and adjoining woodland, albeit somewhat disturbed by a rather busy road. Because of its historical connections, Runnymede is the site of several memorials. The memorial consists of a Portland Stone memorial tablet inscribed with the famous quote from his Inaugural Address: "Let every Nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend or oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and success of liberty".
A large house on Cooper's Hill, overlooking Runnymede and the River Thames, has played a number of roles — as the Royal Indian Engineering College, wartime Post Office headquarters, storage for the Statue of Eros during World War II, an emergency training college, Shoreditch College — a centre for craft and handiwork education, and most recently, Brunel University's design school.
Access
Runnymede is owned by the National Trust and is open during daylight hours, seven days a week, at no charge.
Location
Runnymede is located on the banks of the River Thames, and on the A308 road in Egham about 4 miles east of Windsor.
Trivia
The last fatal duel in England took place on Priest Hill, which borders with Runnymede, in 1852.
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