Magna Carta Embroidery launches Crowdfunder Campaign

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17.

November

2014.

Magna Carta Embroidery launches Crowdfunder Campaign

Magna Carta Embroidery Panels - Crowdfunder campaign launched

A Crowdfunder campaign has been launched by Royal embroider Rhoda Nevins to raise funds for her ambitious Magna Carta Embroidery project, a twelve panel project to mark the 800^th anniversary of the sealing of the Magna Carta, one of the most significant and important events in British history.

The ambitious project of 12 embroidery panels has been commissioned by Runnymede Borough Council and designed and created by Rhoda Nevins who was part of the team that embroidered the Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress.

6 of the panels tell the story of how the Barons persuaded King John to agree to the Magna Carta, one of the most important legal documents, laying the foundation for law and order and the democratic principles of this country and many throughout the world. The other 6 tell the story of how the Magna Carta influenced the constitutions and legal systems of the US, Canada, India, Australia and the continent of Africa. There is an additional panel comprising all the shields of the 25 barons who were present at the sealing.

"This is the most exciting and prestigious projects I have ever worked on. The reaction so far to the project has been fantastic and it is very gratifying for me and the team of volunteer broderers that have been working on the project to have been received so well".

"Now the project needs funds to take the panels to various celebratory events throughout the UK. As well as lots of museums and events wanting to display the embroideries lots of schools have shown an interest in the project", says Rhoda.

"The panels are have a lot of educational value. Not only do the panels ‘tell the history' of the events that led up to the sealing of the Magna Carta in the various charter towns throughout the UK, they also explain how the Magna Carta influenced the spread of law and order throughout the world. The bring the story to life and can be used to teach children about the actual history, it can also be used to explain the principles of democracy, why we need rules (laws), about geography and design and technology".

Rhoda has been invited to attend events at museums, events and schools throughout the country and part of the funding will go towards paying for travelling costs, the publication of a souvenir book and an educational website which can be used as a teaching tool.

There will be twelve panels in total and all the panels are A1 size and the backing material is of heavy weight silk with applique and surface embroidery using silk and gold threads.

The Magna Carta Embroidery will be on display throughout the country as part of the Magna Carta 800 anniversary events and are intended to create a lasting legacy to the country in honour of one of the most important historical events in our history.

Below is pictures of the panels and information

The Runnymede Panel

The Runnymede Panel features King John's crest in the middle, Stephen Langdon, The Archbishop of Canterbury on the left and King John on the right of the crest. The bottom of the panel features more Barons in their various colours on their way to Runnymede to ensure that the document was sealed and to assert their power over the King.

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The Canterbury Panel

The Canterbury panel shows people traveling along the Pilgrims Way to Canterbury Cathedral to honour the memory of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Beckett who was executed by King John in 1170. Canterbury became a focus for change after his execution as Thomas Beckett was considered the most holy man in the country and his execution had angered Pope Innocent 3rd (1198 to 1216).

The panel shows monks scribing the Magna Carta and Stephen Langdon, who was Archbishop in 1215 and the main force in getting the Magna Carta sealed. The Catholic Church claimed supremacy over King John, empowering Stephen Langdon, as his representative, to gather the support of the Barons to bring about the changes that led to the sealing of the Magna Carta.

The Bury Panel features St Edmund who legend has it, was tied to a tree and shot with arrows and then had his head chopped off, after he refused the demands of the invading Danes to renounce Christ. The rest of the panel features the Abbey Gateway, Moyse's Hall Museum, The Guildhall and the Norman Tower. There are also a group of Barons, which in 1214 met in the Abbey Church to swear an oath, to compel King John to accept the Charter of Liberties, a direct precursor to Magna Carta which was sealed a year later in Runnymede on June 15, 1215.

At the bottom of the panel the Borough's motto ‘Sacrarium Regis, Cunabula Legis' or ‘Shrine of a King, Cradle of the Law' also reflects the town's role in this significant historical event.

The Bury Panel

The American Panel features John Cabot at the top who discovered parts of America in 1497. The Pilgrim Fathers are pictured on the left, who settled on the East Coast in 1620, in the centre John Smith being captured by Chief Powhatan in 1607, a pioneer and settler who established the first English colony. The Boson Tea Party 1773 is on the left, with wonderful detail of tea falling over the side of the ship. Bottom left is General Cornwallis surrendering to George Washington in 1776 and Washington on his horse as first President and on the right is the White House. The two flags are pre and post-independence.

The America Panel

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The India Panel features the Battle of Plassey in 1757, which is when India was colonised. It shows Clive of India negotiating with the Mongols after their defeat. On the left you can see the establishment of the British Raj which ruled India from 1858 to 1947. To its left is a beautiful ceremonial Indian elephant. At the bottom is the East India Company, which rose to account for half the world's trade. Mahatma Ghandi is in the middle at the bottom and the Indian Parliament is on the bottom right, established in 1947 when India gained Independence from Great Britain.

The India Panel

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The Barons Shields

This panel features the shields of the twenty five feudal Barons who came together to force King John to accept a document, the Magna Carta, in an attempt to limit his powers by law and protect their rights. The 1215 charter required King John to proclaim certain liberties and accept that his will was not arbitrary —for example by explicitly accepting that no "freeman" (in the sense of non-serf) could be punished except through the law of the land, a right that still exists today. This sacred text is the foundation for Rule of Law and the principles of democracy throughout the UK and many other countries throughout the world.

For further information and jpegs please contact: Caroline Ratner, Caroline Ratner Communicationscaroline@carolinecoms.com020 8209 0120

Our Facebook is constantly updated with information about the embroidery and Magna Carta events https://www.facebook.com/magnacartaembroidery

Notes to Editors

http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/magna-carta-embroidery-project/?

The Magna Carta Tapestry was commissioned by Runnymede council where the Magna Carta was sealed by King John. The 12 panels of the tapestry commemorate the birth of British democracy and the foundation of our legal system, a model which has been copied throughout the world.

Pictured above, initial design for one of the panels and close up detail. For more pictures please go to dropbox link which includes pictures of Rhoda, the Guildford embroidery. There are more pictures being added all the time.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hhp9dmrr2rxurio/5kZ5l_GF1iMagna Carta

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/3x5q9t0ldjj7zvk/1xQoXNpjA8Rhoda Nevins

https://www.dropbox.com/s/aegh8csui2i0xb1/Guildford%20Embroidery.jpgGuildford

https://www.facebook.com/magnacartaembroidery

For further information about the Magna Carta 800^th celebrations http://magnacarta800th.com/ the official website for the celebrations HMH The Queen is the Patron.

More information on the Magna Carta - the cornerstone of British Liberty on the British Library website http://www.bl.uk/treasures/magnacarta/

About Rhoda Nevins

The past few years have been busy for Rhoda, she has completed a magnificent piece depicting the skyline of the town of Guildford which was presented to the Town memory of her late husband, a former mayor of Guildford. She also helped to embroidered one of the official Olympic quilts which were gifted to each country competing in the 2012 games. She has also recently been presented to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on a visit to Southwark Cathedral as part of the team that embroidered Jubilee vestments for the Bishop of Southwark and his Area Bishops.

Rhoda also takes private commissions as well as being commissioned to work on larger public projects.

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