Thomas Bridge 09 February 2015

Magna Carta original uncovered in council’s archive

An original edition of the Magna Carta potentially worth up to £10m has been found in a Kent council’s archives.

Discovery of a version of the document that established the principle rule of law in 1215 was made in the files of the history department of Kent County Council by council community history officer Dr Mark Bateson.

An original Charter of the Forest issued in 1271 was also uncovered in Maidstone, with both documents under the ownership of Sandwich Town Council.

There is thought to be only one other such pair of these historic documents in the world, with the other held in Oriel College, Oxford.

The Sandwich Magna Carta parchment was found filed in a Victorian scrapbook and is thought to be an original from the version issued by Edward I in 1300.

The discovery by Bateson in late December came just months ahead of the 800th anniversary of King John’s concession. The British Library marked the occasion by exhibiting four 1215 editions of the Magna Carta.

Professor Nicholas Vincent of the University of East Anglia who authenticated the document said it was ‘a fantastic piece of news for Sandwich, which puts it in a small category of towns and institutions that own a 1300 issue’.

Mayor of Sandwich, Cllr Paul Graeme, said: ‘On behalf of Sandwich Town Council, I would like to say that we are absolutely delighted to discover that an original Magna Carta and original Charter of the Forest, previously unknown, are in our ownership.

‘To own one of these documents, let alone both, is an immense privilege given their international importance.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Casual Duty Managers (Sports Centres)

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth
£14.28 per hour plus 12.07% holiday relief pay al
Casual Duty Managers (Sports Centres)
Recuriter: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth

Community Support Worker - Centralised Safeguarding Triage

Essex County Council
£25395.00 - £32131.00 per annum + +26 Days Leave & Local Gov Pension
Community Support Worker - Centralised Safeguarding TriagePermanent, Full Time£25,395 to £32,131 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Mechanical Engineer (Gas) - Harlow District Council

Essex County Council
Up to £450.0000 per day
Mechanical Engineer (Gas) Location, HarlowFull time, Temporary 6-12 Months £350.88 PAYE / £450.00 Umbrella Closing Date
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Principal Planner - Basildon Borough Council

Essex County Council
£50 - £55 per hour
Principal Planner - Basildon Borough Council Full-Time, Temporary 6 Months Contract 36.25 hours£50-£55 per hour Umbrella Closing Date
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Principal Systems Analyst Applications

Oxfordshire County Council
£46412 - £49282
The ICT Principal Systems Analyst will be the subject matter expert on the Children's Social Care and Early Help Applications. They will be aware of and will contribute to Application roadmap developments, keep abreast of legislative changes and customer Oxford
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council
Linkedin Banner