Magna Carta and the North at Durham Cathedral

It’s another first for Durham Cathedral this year which will exhibit the only surviving 1216 Magna Carta, along with issues from 1225 and 1300, and three Forest Charters in Durham Cathedral Museum.

Magna Carta and the North at Durham Cathedral

The rare documents will be on display as part of a new exhibition, Magna Carta and the North, alongside specially commissioned temporary artworks and installations throughout the cathedral that will tell the story of these 800-year-old documents which are still a powerful symbol of social justice in the world today.

Magna Carta, or the “Great Charter”, was first signed in 1215 and has been described as the most famous document in English history and a cornerstone of modern democracy. It outlined basic rights with the principle that no-one was above the law, including the king.

It also charted the right to a fair trial.

Four copies of the 1215 Magna Carta, granted by King John, survive and are displayed at the British Library, Lincoln Cathedral and Salisbury Cathedral.

The charter of 1216 was considerably shorter – with 42 clauses instead of 63. And the last time the Magna Carta was issued under the king’s seal – this time King Edward I – was in 1300.

Three forest charters will also be displayed at the cathedral.

They are practical documents granting access to land and natural resources.

The last time the medieval manuscripts were displayed in 2017, almost 19,000 people came to see them over 11 weeks.

Head of libraries and collections at Durham Cathedral Alison Cullingford said:

“Due to their fragile nature and historical importance, these documents are rarely seen by the general public.”

Get your tickets here.