·       Oldest document in City Corporation-owned The London Archives on display at The Bayeux Tapestry exhibition at British Museum

·       Document dating from 1067 has never previously been loaned to an exhibition

·       William Charter’s addition to Museum’s landmark exhibition aims to help put the tapestry into a broader context of medieval England

One is nearly 230 feet long, the other, just six inches – both of them, unique, hugely valuable, and of immense historical significance in their own right.

And for the first time ever, they will be viewed together at the British Museum later this year.

The William Charter - the oldest document held in the City of London Corporation’s extensive archives and never previously loaned to an exhibition - will be on display at The Bayeux Tapestry exhibition at the British Museum, which opens in September.

Stored at the City of London Corporation-owned The London Archives, the Charter was given to the City of London by King William I in 1067, shortly after the Battle of Hastings, but before he entered the City. Measuring just six inches by one-and-a-half inches, it was written on vellum (parchment) in Old English.

The Charter bears one of the earliest surviving seals from William the Conqueror’s reign and is the earliest known royal or imperial document to guarantee the collective rights of the inhabitants of any town, granting nothing new to Londoners, but confirming the citizens' rights and privileges, which were already in existence.

Translated into modern English, the Charter reads:

“William King greets William the Bishop and Geoffrey the Portreeve and all the citizens in London, French and English, in friendly fashion; and I inform you that it is my will that your laws and customs be preserved as they were in King Edward’s day; that every son shall be his father’s heir after his father’s death; and that I will not that any man do wrong to you. God yield you.”

Alongside the Charter will be a small display of items from the Museum’s collections and loans, including an illustrated manuscript from The Bodleian Libraries at the University of Oxford and the Chew Valley hoard of silver pennies of Harold II and William I.

Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Culture, Heritage, and Libraries Committee, Brendan Barns, said:

“What this remarkable, 969-year-old document lacks in size, it more than makes up for in its historical significance and importance to the history of the City of London Corporation and more widely, to our understanding of life and being ruled in 11^th-century England.

“Taking its place within a small and exclusive list of items, the William Charter’s inclusion in this landmark exhibition will help provide a compelling parallel with the Bayeux Tapestry.”

The Bayeux Tapestry opens at the British Museum on 10 September and is being hailed as its return to England for the first time since it was created nearly 1,000 years ago.

The City of London Corporation, which owns The London Archives, is one of the largest funders of heritage and cultural activities in the UK and invests over £145m every year. The organisation manages a range of world-class cultural and heritage institutions, including the Barbican Centre, Tower Bridge, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Guildhall Library, Guildhall Art Gallery, The London Archives, and Keats House. It also supports the London Symphony Orchestra and London Museum, which will open on 28 November.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

About the City of London Corporation:

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile, dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

About The London Archives (TLA):

The London Archives (TLA), which is funded and managed by the City of London Corporation, focuses on the history of London. The documents and books that TLA cares for, and provides access to, date from 1067 to the present day and collections are constantly expanding. The archives are free to use and many of our exhibitions and events are free to attend.

The London Archives, 40 Northampton Road, London, EC1R 0HB The London Archives | London Archives

The London Archives is open to visitors at the following times:

• Monday - 10am to 4.30pm
• Tuesday - 10am to 6pm
• Wednesday - 10am to 7pm
• Thursday - 10am to 4.30pm

The London Archives is open one Saturday every month from 10.00am to 4.30pm – they are 11 July, 8 August, 12 September, 10 October, 7 November, and 12 December.

Closed on Bank Holidays – please check Opening Times | London Archives for full details.