Runnymedes Famous Meadowland

Why is a flat expanse of English meadowland, bordered on one side by the meandering River Thames and on the other by a wooded hillside, internationally famous? The reason is because of a historic event that took place almost 800 years ago.

Runnymede's Famous Meadowland

Why is a flat expanse of English meadowland, bordered on one side by the meandering River Thames and on the other by a wooded hillside, internationally famous? The reason is that on this site nearly 800 years ago, King John agreed and placed his royal seal on the Great Charter of Liberties.

It was on June 15th in 1215, after his barons had risen against him and seized the city of London in revolt against his harsh rules and taxes. John had taxed them heavily and used their men in his battles against the French, trying unsuccessfully to retain the land holdings on the far side of the English Channel which were another source of income for him. He devised the charter to appease the barons, who pledged him their loyalty again.

Magna Carta

The charter became known as the Magna Carta, which has had a chequered history, undergoing various revisions by subsequent monarchs, but has emerged as an international symbol of personal liberties and human rights. One of its clauses introduced the legal right of habeas corpus, under which no-one should be unjustly imprisoned.

Even before John's time the Runnymede fields were the site of the Witan, where the Anglo-Saxon kings summoned their lords to a council meeting to decide matters of the day and make proclamations. So it was a natural choice for the meeting that resulted in the Magna Carta, especially as the king was staying in nearby Windsor castle.

Visiting Runnymede

Runnymede today is a popular tourist attraction where you can visit the Magna Carta Memorial which was erected by the American Bar Association in 1957. You'll also find a memorial to President Kennedy, for which Jackie Kennedy joined Queen Elizabeth II for the inauguration ceremony in 1965.

A pleasant walk to the top of the hill from the meadow will take you to the Air Forces Memorial in which you'll find the names of over 20,000 members of the Royal Air Force and Commonwealth Air Forces personnel who lost their lives in World War II. You'll find yourself speaking in hushed tones as you wander the whitewashed cloisters around the courtyard used for memorial ceremonies in this beautiful and peaceful setting. Climb the steps to the top of the tower in the centre of the building for magnificent views across the river valley to Windsor, with its magnificent castle and London's Heathrow Airport in the opposite direction.

More History

Originally Runnymede was part of the estate of Chertsey Abbey, set up in the 9th century in its location a few miles down the Thames. On the dissolution of the monasteries in 1537, the abbey and its estate was surrendered to Henry VIII, Runnymede included. For around 150 years in the 18th and 19th centuries it was the site of the annual Egham Horse Races.

Since then the Runnymede meadows have been in danger of development from time to time. In the early 20th century, Prime Minister, David Lloyd George proposed selling off the land. He was stopped by a general public outcry similar to the recent one in 2011 when PM David Cameron tried to gain revenue from England's public forests and woodlands.

The saviour of Runnymede was Lady Fairhaven who purchased it in 1929 to conserve it in memory of her late husband. She also funded the building of two lodges designed by eminent architect of the day, Edwin Lutyens, before donating the land and buildings to the National Trust in 1931. Eighty years on it is still in the care of the Trust, with car parks, toilets, plus a tea room and art gallery in the lodges. Visitors come from far and wide to wander the historic meadows, visit the memorials, and picnic beside the river.

Where to Stay

You don't need to go very far to find accommodation in the area. The Runnymede-on-Thames Hotel is a four star hotel on the banks of the river at the entrance to Runnymede close to Junction 13 of the M25. Its restaurants are open to non-residents and you can dine al fresco at the side of the Bell and Weir Lock.

You might prefer to stay in the town of Windsor, which is a short distance away by road or by boat. Taking a riverboat trip to Runnymede makes a great day's outing from there.

Windsor for Royals and the Public

Other attractions nearby include: the massive castle, a favourite weekend retreat for the queen, is said to be the oldest inhabited castle in the world; Windsor Great Park over four thousand acres of parkland with beautiful gardens, polo grounds and favourite places for the royal family to ride and drive horses; Eton College on the other side of the river; and Legoland for children and big kids alike.

Since a royal proclamation by King George V in 1917, Windsor has been the surname of the UK's royal family, and Windsor was where Prince Charles married his second wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. This corner of England has plenty to occupy its visitors, not least the historical and current royal connections found all around it.