This article is about the historic water meadow where Magna Carta was signed; for the district council named after that place, see Runnymede (district).

Detail from the Magna Carta Memorial

Runnymede is a water meadow alongside the River Thames in the English county of Surrey. It is famous in history for its association with the Magna Carta and today it is also well known for its 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 adjoing Magna Carta Island on the far bank. Although the latter two locations are now in Berkshire, they may have been considered part of Runnymede at the time.

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. These are all located amongst the trees of Coopers Hill, which backs the water meadow:

• Magna Carta Memorial, a domed classical temple built by by the American Bar Association and containing a pillar of English granite on which is inscribed To commemorate Magna Carta, symbol of Freedom Under Law.
• John F. Kennedy Memorial, the British memorial to the assassinated President Kennedy. The memorial consists of a Portland Stone memorial 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. Visitors reach the memorial by treading a steep path of irregular granite steps, intended to symbolise a pilgrimage. 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 England, as such it is American territory. It is maintained by the Kennedy Memorial Trust.
• Air Forces Memorial, which 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.

Cooper's Hill, a large house 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 internationally famous 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 between Windsor (4 miles) and Egham (2 miles). It is some 30 miles west of the centre of London.

External links

• National Trust web page on Runnymede