Magna Carta – Celebrating 800 years
2015 marks the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta. The Magna Carta was signed (by Royal Seal) on 15th June 1215 between the barons of Medieval England and King John.
“Magna Carta” literally means “Great Charter” and it is an important piece of English history where the rights of individuals are protected against the power of the King or Queen. It is a reminder of the achievement of our forebears in standing up to an unjust ruler. It is an inspiration in that it encourages us to champion those same principles today.
The Pontefract Connection
John de Lacy, the Baron of Pontefract, was a leading member of the 25 Barons who took part in the opposition to King John to ensure that he honoured the Magna Carta. The de Lacy lands covered much of Yorkshire including Leeds, Wakefield, Barnsley, Huddersfield and Halifax, so this is much more than just a Pontefract celebration.
Pontefract’s involvement in developing democracy continued beyond the Magna Carta. The town was centre stage in August 1872, when a ballot box was used for the first secret ballot in Britain to elect a Member of Parliament. It was the first time that people had voted in secret by placing an ‘X’ on a ballot paper next to the name of their choice – the system that we now take for granted. One of the ballot boxes used still remains in Pontefract Museum. Thus Pontefract was intimately involved in two of the basic elements of democracy – freedom of the individual and the secret ballot – things we now take for granted.
