Runnymede
Runnymede is a historic water-meadow on the south bank of the River Thames in Surrey, England, between Egham and Staines, renowned as the site where King John sealed the Magna Carta on 15 June 1215 under pressure from rebellious barons.[1][2]
This charter established key legal principles, including the requirement for lawful judgment before imprisonment and the limitation of arbitrary royal authority, forming a cornerstone of constitutional governance that influenced developments in England and beyond.[1][3]
The name Runnymede derives from Anglo-Saxon origins, combining terms for "council" and "meadow," reflecting its probable use for assemblies prior to the 13th century.[4][1]
Managed by the National Trust since 1929, the area preserves open countryside and hosts memorials commemorating the Magna Carta, including the 1957 American Bar Association monument designed by Sir Edward Maufe, the 1965 John F. Kennedy Memorial, and the nearby Commonwealth Air Forces Memorial erected in 1953.[1][2]