Introduction

Next door to the Gothic splendour of Lincoln Cathedral is a pub called ‘The Magna Carta’, its sign depicting the barons forcing King John to sign the eponymous document at Runnymede in 1215. Across the street, Lincoln Castle houses one of the four ‘originals’. Accompanying the dimly, yet mystically, lit ‘original copy’ is a display about both Magna Carta and constitutions. The exhibition begins by stating that the copy of ‘Magna Carta that you will see today was written . . .’:

Before women had the vote (1928) Before all men had the vote (1918) Before the United States declared independence (1776) Before the Glorious Revolution (1688) Before King Charles lost his head (1649) . . . Long before Constitutions were written down.