Villagers from Little Dunmow went to the Mansion House in London on Tuesday to meet the Lord Mayor of London to mark 800 years since the sealing of the Magna Carta.
The group of 13, were remembering the leader of the rebel barons, Robert Fitzwilliam from Little Dunmow who along with the barons from Stansted Mountfitchet and Castle Hedingham and others from across England, forced King John to put his seal on the charter of rights on June 15 1215. People from the towns and cities of some 20 rebel barons were represented. They were invited by The Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alan Yarrow, to a gathering at The Mansion House, his official residence, to mark eight centuries since the barons gained the crucial support of London and its mayor. Little Dunmow Parish Councillor, Kate Atherton was the first to sign a copy of the Magna Carta after the Lord Mayor.
She said: “It was a splendid day, we heard speeches from the elected Mayor of Leicester, Peter Soulsby and Professor Nicholas Vincent from University of East Anglia. We also enjoyed a short performance by students of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.”
London’s copy of the great charter was on display on Thursday (May 14) at Middle Temple. It will have been transported from the City Heritage Gallery at Guildhall Art Gallery.
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