A 1300 edition of the Magna Carta
A 1300 edition of the Magna Carta has been found buried in Kent's archives. This news comes hot on the heals after four copies of the 1215 document , two from The British Library and one each from Salisbury Cathedral and Lincoln Cathedral were brought together for a short exhibition at the British Library.
The new discovery of the historic document, which established the principle of the rule of law, was found at the Kent History and Library Centre in Maidstone. The charter has been authenticated by Professor Nicholas Vincent, of the University of East Anglia, who has confirmed it belongs to Sandwich town council. The document was ripped with about a third of it missing, but it is still thought to be worth up to £10m according to the Professor.
A spokesman for Kent County Council said the parchment was found at the James Whatman Way site by community historian, Dr Mark Bateson. Dr Bateson was looking in the archives for the Charter of Forest, at the request of Prof Vincent, when he spotted the Magna Carta.
The town of Sandwich have said they will use it to encourage tourism rather than sell it.
A copy of one of the British Library's Magna Carta