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Runnymede
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Runnymede is a water-meadow alongside the River Thames in the English county of Surrey, and just over west of central London. It is notable for its association with the sealing of the Magna Carta, and as a consequence is the site of a collection of memorials.
name Runnymede is used commonly now to refer to land in National Trust ownership in the Thames flood plain south-west of the river between Old Windsor and Egham.
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Encyclopedia
Runnymede is a water-meadow alongside the River Thames in the English county of Surrey, and just over west of central London. It is notable for its association with the sealing of the Magna Carta, and as a consequence is the site of a collection of memorials.
Topography
The name Runnymede is used commonly now to refer to land in National Trust ownership in the Thames flood plain south-west of the river between Old Windsor and Egham. The area comprises Long Mede and Runnymede which together with Coopers Hill Slopes is managed by the National Trust, and Yard Mede.
The countryside is characterised as "Thames Basin Lowland" typified by gently rolling hills, ponds, meadows and woods. The National Trust area is a Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI) which contains a Site of Special Scientific Interest. These are overseen by Runnymede Borough Council.
The National Trust holding encompasses donated in 1929 by the first Lady Fairhaven and her two sons in memory of Urban Hanlon Broughton; and of broadleaved woodland on Coopers Hill Slopes given in 1963 by Egham Urban District Council. (In April 1974 the Council was subsumed within Runnymede Borough.)
Long Mede(Image 1) is a pleasant meadow north of the ancient 'mede' of Runnymede towards Old Windsor and has been used for centuries to provide a good quality hay from the alluvial pasture. Runnymede itself (Image 2) lies towards Egham and is associated popularly with Magna Carta Island (Image 3) although this is located on the far bank of the Thames. Both are popularly considered potential locations for the sealing of Magna Carta.
Near the Island, on the north-east flood plain in park land are Ankerwycke and the ruins of the 12th Century Priory of St Mary's. The Thames has changed course regularly and these areas may once have been an integral part of Runnymede and, except for Magna Carta Island, were acquired by the National Trust in 1998.
History
The name Runnymede may be derived from the Anglo-Saxon describing a place in the meadows or 'medes' used to hold regular meetings. The Witan, Witenagemot or Council of the Anglo-Saxon Kings of the 7th to 11th centuries was held from time to time at Runnymede during the reign of Alfred the Great.
The Council met usually in the open air. This political organ was transformed in succeeding years influencing the creation of England’s 13th century parliament.
The water-meadow at Runnymede is the most likely location at which, in 1215, King John sealed the Magna Carta. The charter indicates Runnymede by name. Magna Carta had an impact on common and constitutional law as well as political representation also effecting the development of parliament.
Runnymede's association with ideals of democracy, limitation of power, equality and freedom under law has attracted placement there of monuments and commemorative symbols.
Features
Urban Hanlon Broughton Memorials
Broughton died in January 1929 just prior to elevation to the peerage. His wife, Cara Leland (née Rogers) Broughton became the first Lady Fairhaven, and their eldest son, the first Baron Fairhaven by command of King George V. In December 1929 Lady Fairhaven presented the Runnymede Meadow and surrounding lands to the National Trust.
Sir Edwin Lutyens was commissioned to design a memorial to Broughton consisting of the kiosks and piers at the Egham end with lodges and piers at the Windsor end. Lutyens also designed a low wide arch bridge to carry the main road over the Thames integrating the road layout and bridge design into his plans for the memorials. The kiosks were moved to their present location when the M25 motorway was constructed.
There are two octagonal kiosks with piers facing each other across the A308 towards Egham, one of which is shown in Image 4 with the Runnymede water meadow in the background. These piers are a shorter version of those adjacent to the lodges either side of the same road towards Old Windsor in the Long Mede area of Runnymede (Image 5). The lodges show typical Lutyens design features with steeply angled roofs, large false chimneys and no rain water gutters at the eves.
The piers carry similar inscriptions. On one face (Image 6) is the inscription:
and on the other (Image 7) the words:
The memorials were opened in 1932 by the Prince of Wales (Edward VIII) and are Grade II listed buildings.
Langham Pond SSSI
Langham Pond was created when the meandering River Thames formed and abandoned an oxbow lake. Its status as a wetland Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) was first notified in 1975 and later reviewed under Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 when the protected area was extended to within Runnymede as managed by the National Trust.
The pond and associated meadow form a habitat considered unique in Southern England and of international importance for nature conservation. The flora and fauna include nationally scarce plants and insects including a species of fly unrecorded elswhere in the United Kingdom.
Air Forces Memorial
The Air Forces Memorial commemorates the men and women of the Allied Air Forces who died during the Second World War and records the names of the 20,456 airmen who have no known grave.
From the top of the tower visitors can see long views over Windsor, the surrounding counties and, somehow appropriately, aircraft taking off and landing at Heathrow. The memorial was designed by Edward Maufe, architect of Guildford Cathedral.
John F. Kennedy Memorial
The British memorial to the assassinated President Kennedy was jointly dedicated in May, 1965, by Queen Elizabeth II and Jacqueline Kennedy, prior to a reception for the Kennedy family at Windsor Castle. The memorial consists of a Portland stone memorial tablet inscribed with the famous quote from his Inaugural Address:
Visitors reach the memorial by treading a steep path of irregular granite steps, intended to symbolise a pilgrimage. There are 50 steps in total. Each step is different to all others, with the entire flight made from 60,000 hand-cut granite setts.
The area of ground that the memorial is situated on was given as a gift to the United States of America by the People of Britain, and as such it is American territory. It is maintained by the Kennedy Memorial Trust, which also sponsors educational scholarships for British students to attend university in the United States.
Magna Carta Memorial
Situated in a grassed enclosure on the lower slopes of Cooper's Hill, this memorial is of a domed classical style, containing a pillar of English granite on which is inscribed "To commemorate Magna Carta, symbol of Freedom Under Law". The memorial was created by the American Bar Association to a design by Sir Edward Maufe R.A., and was unveiled on 18 July 1957 at a ceremony attended by American and English lawyers.
Since 1957 representatives of the ABA have visited and rededicated the Memorial renewing pledges to the Great Charter. In 1971 and 1985 commemorative stones were placed on the Memorial plinth.
In July 2000 the ABA came:
In 2007 on its 80th anniversary the ABA again visited Runnymede and during the convention installed as President Charles Rhyne who devised Law Day which seeks in the USA an annual reaffirmation of faith in the forces of law for peace.
The ABA will be meeting at Runnymede in 2015 on the 800th anniversary of the sealing of the original charter.
The Magna Carta Memorial is administered by the Magna Carta Trust, which is chaired by the Master of the Rolls.
In 2008, flood lights were installed to light the memorial at night, but due to vandalism they now lie smashed.
Cooper's Hill House
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 teacher training college, Shoreditch College – a centre for craft and handiwork education, and most recently, Brunel University's design school(has removed to Uxbridge Main Campus).
Symbolic Oaks
The Duke of Gloucester planted an oak tree adjacent to the Magna Carta Memorial in 1987 as did P.V.Narismha Rao Prime Minister of the Republic of India which is the worlds most populous democracy. The Prime Minister left a plaque reading:
In 1987 two further oak trees were planted near the Memorial. One planted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II marked National Tree Week. Another planted by John O. Marsh, Secretary of the Army of the United States of America has a plaque which reads
Ankerwycke Yew
The revered 2500 year old Ankerwycke Yew is also a possible site where Magna Carta was sealed. The sacred tree could have been the location of the Witan Council and influenced the founding of St Mary's Priory there. This religious site may well have been the preferred neutral meeting place of King John and the barons.
Land development proposals threatening the yew led to action resulting in the tree and surrounding estate passing into the protection of the National Trust in 1998.
Henry VIII is said to have met Anne Boleyn under the tree in the 1530s.
In 1992 Professor David Bellamy led a dedication at the yew stating: There followed ten pledges to sustain all life forms.
Access
Runnymede is owned by the National Trust and is open during daylight hours, seven days a week, at no charge.
One of the Lutyens lodges at the Windsor entrance to the meadow houses a popular tea room. Two car parks adjoin this entrance.
Location
Runnymede is located on the banks of the River Thames, and on the A308 road in Egham about east of Windsor. It is about west of the centre of London. Its historical significance has been heavily influenced by its proximity to the Roman Road river crossing at nearby Staines. The last fatal duel in England took place in 1852, on Priest Hill, which borders with Runnymede.
Gallery
Namesakes
Canada
France
External links
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