A lovely weekend in Surrey with Elder Son and family. They live in Egham, very close to Runnymede and Saturday afternoon we walked through the wood to the site of the new Magna Carta memorial.
In 1215 a peace treaty was made between King John and the barons. It was sealed with the King's seal - not signed - and Runnymede has a place in history as a founding influence in the shaping of common law today.
Runnymede is basically a field, very popular with walkers, but there are several sites of particular interest. One we'd not seen before - it only opened this summer - is Writ in Water. Commissioned by the National Trust it provides a quiet space for reflection and meditation on the Magna Carta and in particular Clause 39:
No free man shall be seized or imprisoned, or stripped of his rights or possessions, or outlawed or exiled, or deprived of his standing in any way, nor will we proceed with force against him, or send others to do so, except by the lawful judgement of his equals or by the law of the land.
From afar the monument resembles a concrete bunker. Actually close to it still looks like a relic from the war.
But inside the architect, Mark Wallinger, has used water and light to great effect.
The words of clause 39 are engraved around the edge of the pond - upside down and back to front so they can only be read in the water - when it's still enough. (Not easy when you have two little boys who keep sticking their fingers in!)
It's a very peaceful location and a good reminder of an important part of our history.
But you can only keep a good woman still for a short while. Climbing up the hill behind the monument you will come across this tree swing.
Previously on trips to Surrey we've visited the original magna carta memorial and also the JFK memorial.
The JFK memorial stands on an acre of American soil - land in the centre of the Runnymede area given to America by the British people.
4 comments:
FWIW, that's a rowan tree at the JFK memorial, a tribute to his Catholisism.
I like how you can read the words in the water's reflection, and they are powerful words. Many people today could benefit by their country adopting that rule. Nice to see the little piece of America in England honoring JFK.
I didn't know that, Stu.
A lot of first world countries could do with following that rule, Terra.
How kind of the Brits to think of the USA in mourning. I learned something, today!
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