Press release 5 June 2015
VISITWILTSHIRE’S TWO-DAY MAGNA CARTA TRAIL EXPECTED TO ATTRACT RECORD VISITOR NUMBERS
5 June 2015
With the increased activity and celebrations marking the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta, taking place around the county, VisitWiltshire’s two-day themed Magna Carta Trail is expected to help attract record visitor numbers to Wiltshire.
The two-day trail, which was created in September 2014, features a range of Magna Carta themed activity as well as highlighting many of Wiltshire’s traditional tourism products. It encourages both domestic and international visitors to stay in the county longer. There are many exhibitions, events and activities which visitors can enjoy as part of their own two-day trail.
Salisbury Cathedral is extremely proud to be home to the finest of the four surviving original 1215 Magna Carta. Magna Carta: Spirit of Justice, Power of Words is a new interactive exhibition situated in the stunning 13th century Chapter House. It takes visitors on a journey of liberty and justice and brings to life the history and the contemporary relevance of this extraordinary document, which is often seen as representing the foundation of modern human rights and of the justice system we recognise today.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Stonehenge which is believed to have evolved between 3,000 and 1,600 BC is a historic journey through the ancient Wiltshire landscape. Recently opened is a new exhibition in the visitor centre ‘Wish You Were Here’.
To complete the trail take a short drive to Trowbridge, one of only two Magna Carta Baron Towns in the South West, where an impressive Henry de Bohun maquette sits in the new exhibition Magna Carta – Game of Barons in Trowbridge Museum open until 25 July. He was one of the 25 barons elected to enforce Magna Carta in the early 13th century and he is pictured in a stained glass window in St James’s Church, holding a copy of the Charter.
Trowbridge’s Medieval Charter Fayre will take place in the Town Park on 24 - 26 July and will include a play day in the park with re-enactors, falconry, jousting and much more.
Lacock Abbey & Fox Talbot Museum has a new Magna Carta exhibition 13 June – 31 August, featuring a 1940s facsimile and two medieval copies of the 1225 Magna Carta. Find out about life in medieval Wiltshire in the context of the Magna Carta in a small travelling exhibition in the cloisters.
Old Sarum's cathedral was the original home of the Salisbury Magna Carta (Salisbury Cathedral not being founded until 1220), and in order to commemorate this there will be a family orientated event on 20 June and 21 June.
Salisbury is proving to be a hub of activity with The Baron’s Charter Trail Salisbury 2015, 25 life-sized decorated medieval baron sculptures painted by a wide range of artists and community groups, will be placed throughout the streets of Salisbury from 12 June – 6 September.
The Magna Carta Pageant from 8pm on 15 June is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and will bring the streets of Salisbury to life with a carnival of colour. A series of larger-than-life ‘baron’ puppets will lead a delegation from communities across Wiltshire. Hundreds will participate and thousands are expected to line the streets of the city as the procession weaves its way from the Market Place to Salisbury Cathedral, where dignitaries will take part in the signing of a new Magna Carta statement for Wiltshire in the 21st century.
Magna Carta – Liberty & Justice Walks which run from 23 May to 26 September and led by Salisbury City guides, are a fascinating 90 minute journey from absolute medieval monarchy to the constitutional monarchy of today.
Salisbury Playhouse will host a live event in which actor Edward Fox will read extracts of Magna Carta which will be debated by a panel of human rights experts in Magna Carta Now at 2pm on Monday 15 June. Stage ‘65 Youth Theatre will be performing a new play at Salisbury Cathedral on 20 – 21 June, by Olivier-Award-nominated Hattie Naylor, exploring how the themes of Magna Carta are relevant to young people today.
Salisbury Cathedral is host to the Magna Carta Gala Weekend from 13 – 15 June which includes a Gala Concert, Liber-tea Party and amazing Art Installations. On 15 June from 1pm there is an Open Day with visitor drop-in workshops on calligraphy, medieval games and clay work. Many other Magna Carta related events, workshops and lectures are being held at Salisbury Cathedral throughout the year including the amazing Magna Flora Flower Festival from 15 – 20 September.
For further information please visit www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/whats-on/magna-carta-2015 and for places to stay www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/accommodation.
For images or further information or a press visit please contact Florence Wallace, PR Manager, flowallace@visitwiltshire.co.uk or tel. 01722 341309 or 07436 588860.
Note to editors: VisitWiltshire was established in August 2011 and is the official Tourist Board for Wiltshire. It is a private sector membership organisation representing over 600 partners. VisitWiltshire's priority is to grow the county's Visitor Economy by raising awareness of the destination and generating additional tourism visits and spend. Wiltshire's Visitor Economy currently generates an estimated £1.5billion and supports over 28,000 jobs.
Images for VisitWiltshire’s Magna Carta album are now available on our photo library via this link: https://www.flickr.com/gp/129320754@N03/gA99j5 Photos may be used in print and/or online for the promotion of tourism to Wiltshire and any photos used must be credited to www.visitwiltshire.co.uk, unless otherwise stated in the title of the photo. Full terms and conditions can be found here.