If I ask you to cast your minds back….back, back, back through the sands of time, to this day in the year 1215, anyone remember it? Hmmm no, thought it might be too far back for even some of our oldest regulars (!) but it was a date that was to enter the books of British history, and for very good reason.

15th June 2015 was the day that the then King of England, King John, signed and sealed the Magna Carta, one of the country’s most important and influential historical moments.

The Magna Carta has become known as the charter on which British life was based, and it has said to have inspired a huge number of political campaigns and causes, from the Suffragettes to the Human Rights bill to the way modern politics is organised. The renowned lawyer and judge, Lord Denning described the Magna Carta as “the greatest constitutional document of all times – the foundation of the freedom of the individual against the arbitrary authority of the despot”.

The charter was originally an (albeit unsuccessful) attempt at a peace treaty between the Royals and the rebels of the early 13th century. Neither side stood by their pledges, however the charter was reissued the following year by King John’s son, and although it technically failed to achieve a peaceful Britain at the time, it did lay down some of the principles and ideals with which Great Britain is still run today.

Image from the British Library

The Magna Carta has a strong iconic status in the history of Britain, and although the medieval language and typeface make it virtually impossible for the average person to read and understand, it’s so important because it outlines some of the basic human rights by which we still live today. For example, it lists the right to a fair trial; it states that even the king is not above the law; it states that a widow is entitled to her husband’s fortune and it is often hailed as the foundation of the democratic nation we live in today.

And to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, here are our top facts. Did you know that……

• The Magna Carta contains 63 clauses….
• But only three of those remain part of English law.
• The Magna Carta inspired the United States Bill of Rights (1791) and many constitutional documents around the world, as well as in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and the European Convention on Human Rights (1950).
• The Magna Carta was written on parchment (dried sheepskin).
• There are only four known copies of the original document that survive today.
• It was signed at Runnymead, near Windsor.
• It’s just over 4,000 words long. Quite a read!
• Many copies of the Magna Carta were made, all by clerks of the King. It would have taken each clerk about 4 hours per copy.
• It was originally written in Latin and it wasn’t translated into English until 1534.
• The Magna Carta established standard widths for cloth and standard weights and measures for supplies like corn, wheat and ale.

So, today is the day to celebrate this extraordinary document. Because life in Britain certainly wouldn’t be the same if it wasn’t for good old King John and his Magna Carter charter.

You can read more about the celebrations taking place across the country here.