Remarkable discovery says copy of Magna Carta in British Library was ‘Canterbury charter’

Chris Britcher Tuesday, January 20, 2015
12:09 PM

Find underlines city’s significance in creation of famous document

A leading historian has made the startling discovery that one of just four surviving copies of the original 1215 Magna Carta was one once held at Canterbury Cathedral.

The Magna Carta, signed and sealed by King John at Runnymeade in 1215, is once of the most famous documents in the world.

It sets out that everyone is subject to the law of the land and has since become a cornerstone of the British constitution.

And now it appears that Kent was home to one of the original copies - underlining the city’s role in British history.

Professor Louise Wilkinson of Canterbury Christ Church University, one of the co-investigators of the Magna Carta Project with Professor David Carpenter, from Kings College, London, explained: “This is an amazing discovery. Only four copies, from the 13 known to have been issued in 1215, remain in the world today; one is held by Lincoln Cathedral, another by Salisbury Cathedral and two are in the Cotton Collection at the British Library. It is one of these two in the Cotton Collection that has been identified as Canterbury Cathedral’s Magna Carta.

“Canterbury has a unique connection to Magna Carta. The Archbishop of Canterbury at the time, Stephen Langton, was the central figure and lead negotiator between the King and barons during the meetings at Runnymede in 1215. He was probably involved in drafting the Charter which, for the first time in history, placed limitations upon the king, making him subject to the law, and protected the rights of freemen to justice and fair trials.”

The remarkable discovery is unveiled in a new book, Magna Carta, by Professor David Carpenter. It reinforces the role that Canterbury and Archbishop Stephen Langton had in one of the most famous and revolutionary documents in British history.

Cressida Williams, head of archives and library at Canterbury Cathedral, explained: “Professor David Carpenter has compared the text of a transcription made in the 1290s of the 1215 Magna Carta then held at the cathedral with one of the two copies of the 1215 Magna Carta in the British Library.

“He has shown that the text is the same. The Canterbury Cathedral Magna Carta was given to Sir Robert Cotton in 1630 by Sir Edward Dering, the Constable of Dover Castle who was a notorious collector of archive material from Canterbury Cathedral.

“We are delighted to know that, after 800 years, Canterbury Cathedral’s copy of Magna Carta still survives. This strengthens the links between the cathedral and the story of Magna Carta, which established, amongst other rights, the freedom of the Church in England.”

The discovery comes as the city prepares to celebrate the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta, highlighting the special and pivotal role Canterbury played in this turning point of British history.

To mark the anniversary in June, Canterbury City Council including The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge, Canterbury Christ Church University and Canterbury Cathedral Archives have joined together with Visit Kent to host a series of public events and exhibitions across the city, as part of the Kent-wide Magna Carta Rediscovered summer touring exhibition.

The British Library will exhibit the copy of the ‘Canterbury’ Magna Carta in a major new exhibition, Magna Carta: Law, Liberty and Legacy.