Magna Carta Locations

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Lincoln Cathedral has been home to its 1215 Magna Carta, marked twice on the reverse with the word ‘Lincolnia’, for the whole of the last eight centuries, surviving the ravages of the English Civil War. This is appropriate since Hugh of Wells, Bishop of the large and powerful Diocese of Lincoln, was present at Runneymede. It is significant since Archbishop Stephen Langton, the architect of Magna Carta, was a Lincolnshire man who studied ideas of kingship from the manuscripts of Lincoln Cathedral. Whilst Lincoln Cathedral has been its home, Magna Carta has also travelled. It was protected during WWII by the United States who kept it safely in Fort Knox, Kentucky.

The Salisbury Magna Carta is the best preserved of the surviving four examples and is on public view in the Chapter House of the Cathedral of St. Mary - the more correct title of Salisbury Cathedral. This magnificent building, featuring the tallest spire in England, was not the original home of the Magna Carta, but rather the original cathedral built at Old Sarum which was demolished in 1219. The recycled stone was used to build the present cathedral dedicated in 1258.

Canterbury lay in the eye of the storm which began with the accession of Stephen Langton as Archbishop in 1207. He became implacably opposed to King John and in 1213, Archbishop Langton revived the ancient charter of Henry I. This pressure, combined with the military power of the Barons, led directly to the showdown at Runnymede

Events that took place in the City of London on Sunday 17th May 1215, became the tipping point in the long-running battle between King John and the Barons. While everyone was at mass, the Barons simply installed their own Mayor, took over the city and then used this as leverage to compel King John to meet them at Runnymede.

Runnymede may derive from the Anglo-Saxon word “runinge”, meaning to take council and “moed” meaning meadow. Some believe that King Alfred held meetings at Runnymede in ancient times. Travel by boat along the Thames was the standard means of safe transport and the choice of venue would have added additional gravitas to the unfolding drama of Magna Carta, not lost on the recalcitrant King John.

St. Albans earns its place as a Charter Town as on 4 August 1213 Barons and Clergy met at St. Albans Abbey. It was here that the King’s Justiciar agreed to pay compensation for past grievances. These concessions triggered a demand for general rights and privileges, based on the Charter of Liberties of Henry I, which by now had become the template for Magna Carta.

Bury St Edmunds has a pivotal role in the history of Magna Carta. One chronicler relates that in 1214 a group of Barons met in St. Edmunds Abbey Church and swore an oath to compel King John to accept The Charter of Liberties, a proclamation of Henry I. It was the direct precursor to Magna Carta a year later.