THOUSANDS of people descended on Odiham and North Warnborough to celebrate the villages' links with the sealing of the Magna Carta.

Villagers had been working hard for months on the celebration of the 800th anniversary of the sealing of the Magna Carta, and their efforts were hailed a success after the weekend's event.

King John is thought to have set off from Odiham Castle, now on the banks of the Basingstoke Canal, on June 10, 1215, to meet baronial leaders at Runnymede in Surrey, where he agreed to their demands demands of the barons, in a document often cited as establishing one of the fundamental principles of today’s legal system.

And thousands of people took part in a busy weekend of events to mark the historic occasion.

Kicking off the celebrations on Friday, hundreds of people lined the streets to see a parade led by King John.

People of all ages could also join in the action over the weekend in North Warnborough, where a living history and archaeology event showcased what life was really like back in 1215.

Nearly 4,000 people in attendance on Saturday and a further 3,000 on Sunday and Monday took part in a host of activities, including a series of battle re-enactments, archery and costume displays.

An archaeological dig drew crowds, with members of Basingstoke Archaeological and Historical Society and a number of keen amateur archaeologists aiming to find a road built by Simon de Montfort in the 13th century.

Members of the public could also have guided tours of Odiham Castle, enjoy performances from around 200 Morris Men and take in the history of the event at the flower festival.

John Champion, chairman of Odiham Society and the Magna Carta committee, told The Gazette: “It was a great success and the weather was with us.

“It is important (to mark the occasion) for Odiham and important for England in a way because it has just come back into the curriculum. 

"The whole aim (of the celebrations) was about education so everybody could start to look at it and learn a bit more.

"Secondly, it was about community so people could come out for the event and it was supported by the lottery, parish council and the Magna Carta Trust.”

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