Magna Carta Monument

The Magna Carta Monument is a post-war memorial commemorating the Magna Carta, designed by Edward Maufe and completed in 1957. It is made of Portland stone and is situated at the top of a stone-paved access path in a sloping parkland that faces north-east towards the River Thames. Along the path, several benefactors' names are inscribed in the pavement slabs.

At the end of the path, the monument is accessed via widening steps that lead to a semi-circular apron, which encircles the front face of the monument and provides a base for two flanking stone benches at the rear. From this apron, a curved ashlar stone wall rises through two sets of steps to form a level platform that serves as the base of the circular monument, which features a roll top moulding. The monument bears the carved inscription: "THIS MEMORIAL WAS DEDICATED ON 28th JULY 1957."

The main structure of the memorial is a simplified version of a classical temple, supported by eight octagonal pillars topped with Art Deco-style leaf capitals. The floor within the circle of pillars has a star-shaped pattern created from alternating Portland stone and black slate fillets. At the center of the star stands a two-meter high granite cylinder, inscribed with an American lone star and the words: "TO/COMMEMORATE/MAGNA CARTA/SYMBOL OF/FREEDOM/UNDER/LAW."

The dome of the monument is saucer-like, featuring a deep stone soffit and a concave metal roof with a central circular opening. The ceiling of the dome is painted sky blue and adorned with gold stars. A carved inscription encircles the ceiling: "A TRIBUTE TO MAGNA CARTA * SYMBOL OF FREEDOM UNDER LAW * ERECTED BY THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION."