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Magna Carta comes home to Lincoln

One of the world’s most important historical documents has returned from its tour of the United States and will soon form part of a new exhibition at Lincoln Castle. This is one of only four original copies of Magna Carta to have survived.

Magna Carta returns to a new refurbished exhibition in the prison building of Lincoln Castle on Saturday 18 July and will feature alongside the even rarer ‘Charter of the Forest’; a document as important as Magna Carta but little known.  The exhibition explains the origin of Magna Carta and the far reaching effects it has had on our lives and the lives of people across the world.  It culminates in a darkened room where visitors will be able to feast their eyes on both documents; the only place in the world where this is possible.

Cllr Eddy Poll, Executive Member for Cultural Services said:

“It is great to have Magna Carta back in Lincoln, taking pride of place at the castle.”

“Magna Carta will be celebrating 800 years in 2015, and by this time we hope to have a permanent housing and exhibition at the castle as part of our redevelopment plans.

“It is a very important document, which still has bearing on today’s laws and we are very lucky to have it in the county.”

Four copies of the original document still survive. One is held at Lincoln Castle, two are held at the British Library while the other original can be seen in the cathedral archives at Salisbury.

The exhibition also features the Charter of the Forest, a lesser known but equally important document that set out ‘real’ rights for citizens. The Charter was issued in 1217 and became the longest one ever to remain in force until 1971. It set out laws that protected common people from the ever-growing aristocracy of the time, and amongst other rights it provided a right of common access to royal land.
 

Article Published: 17/07/2009

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