Runnymede
Runnymede is a water-meadow alongside the River Thames in the English county of Surrey, bordering Berkshire and just over 20 miles (32 km) west of central London.The name Runnymede refers to land in public and National Trust ownership in the Thames flood plain south-west of the river between Old Windsor and Egham.[7] Runnymede's association with ideals of democracy, limitation of power, equality and freedom under law has attracted the placement there of monuments and commemorative symbols.The American-born widow of Urban Hanlon Broughton, she was permitted by letter from George V to join her son's new peerage in tribute to her husband and this gift and be styled Lady Fairhaven."[9] Between 2012 and 2015, Cooper's Hill was occupied by a radical community living in self-build houses, huts, benders, and tents in the self-proclaimed "Runnymede Eco Village".They used mainly reclaimed material to build living structures, solar power to generate electricity, wood-burners for heat, cultivated some vegetables and kept chickens and geese.There were two unsuccessful attempts to evict the settlers in the first year of occupation; and on 30 March 2015 bailiffs served a further High Court trespass notice on behalf of the landowners, Orchard Runnymede Ltd.The lodges show typical Lutyens design features with steeply angled roofs, large false chimneys and no rainwater gutters at the eaves.On one face is the inscription: In these Meads on 15th June 1215 King John at the instance of Deputies from the whole community of the Realm granted the Great Charter the earliest of constitutional documents whereunder ancient and cherished customs were confirmed abuses redressed and the administration of justice facilitated new provisions formulated for the preservation of peace and every individual perpetually secured in the free enjoyment of his life and property.and on the other the words: In perpetual memory of Urban Hanlon Broughton 1857–1929 of Park Close Englefield Green in the county of Surrey Sometime Member of Parliament These meadows of historic interest on 18th December 1929 were gladly offered to the Nation by his widow Cara Lady Fairhaven and his sons Huttleston Lord Fairhaven and Henry BroughtonThe memorials were opened in 1932 by Edward VIII and are Grade II listed buildings.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 64 acres (260,000 m2) within Runnymede as managed by the National Trust.[26] Situated in a grassed enclosure, on the lower slopes of Cooper's Hill, this memorial is of a domed classical style monopteros, containing a pillar of English granite on which is inscribed "To commemorate Magna Carta, symbol of Freedom Under Law".[30] Prince Edward, Duke of Kent together with David K. Diebold, a Minister-Counselor at the US Embassy in London, planted an oak tree adjacent to the Magna Carta Memorial in 1987, as did P. V. Narasimha Rao, prime minister of India.The Prime Minister left a plaque reading: As a tribute to the historic Magna Carta, a source of inspiration throughout the world, and as an affirmation of the values of Freedom, Democracy and the Rule of Law which the People of India cherish and have enshrined in their Constitution.The sculptor Hew Locke created 12 bronze chairs each of which is decorated with symbols of past and present struggles for freedom, equality and the rule of law.Architects Studio Octopi installed the art work on Coopers Hill Slopes (accessible from Longmede) and it was unveiled on the 803rd anniversary of the sealing of the Great Charter.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.
Runnymede (disambiguation)Water-meadowMagna Carta IslandRiver ThamesSurreyBerkshirecentral LondonMagna CartaRunnymede BoroughNational TrustOld WindsorA308 roadAnkerwycke YewfloodplainRoman Roadriver-crossingStaines-upon-ThamesMiddle EnglishWitenagemotAlfred the GreatparliamentWindsor Great ParkUrban Hanlon BroughtonGeorge VpeerageNew Bedford Standard-TimesFairhaven bendersDiggersHigh CourtUrban BroughtonEdwin LutyensM25 motorwayHuttleston Lord FairhavenEdward VIIILangham Pondoxbow lakeSite of Special Scientific InterestWildlife and Countryside Act 1981Air Forces MemorialSecond World WarWindsorHeathrowWembley Archthe GherkinCity of LondonEdward MaufeGuildford CathedralVernon HillJohn F. KennedyElizabeth IIJacqueline KennedyKennedy familyWindsor CastlePortland stoneGeoffrey JellicoeAlan CollinsKennedy Memorial TrustVietnam WarmonopterosgraniteAmerican Bar AssociationLaw DayUnited States Attorney GeneralLoretta LynchAnne, Princess RoyalBritish royal familyMaster of the RollsPrince Edward, Duke of KentP. V. Narasimha Raoprime minister of IndiaConstitutionJohn O. Marsh Jr.United States Secretary of the ArmyJamestown, VirginiaConstitution of the United StatesThe JurorsSurrey County CouncilHew LockeNelson MandelaRobben IslandLillie LentonWilliamJohn KeatsMark WallingerRoyal Indian Engineering CollegePost OfficeWorld War IIAnterosShaftesbury Memorial FountainPicadilly CircusShoreditch College of EducationBrunel UniversityHenry VIIIAnne BoleynDavid BellamyKingaroyBendigoRichmondLondon, OntarioTorontoRunnymedeVictoria, British ColumbiaSt. John's, Newfoundland and LabradorJoinville-le-PontVal de MarneÎle de FranceUdhagamandalamMadridRunnymede CollegeHarper County, KansasRunnemede, New JerseyCharleston County, South CarolinaWindsor, VermontMawer, A.Stenton, F. M.English Place-Name SocietyMackay, CharlesThe GuardianSurrey AdvertiserHistoric EnglandNational Heritage List for EnglandThe TimesSt Petersburg TimesAssociated PressHiggins, Charlotte