The county continues to celebrate the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta, the 1215 peace treaty between King John and the people that is the root of our human rights...

STARKEY AT THE QUARTERHOUSE

The country’s leading constitutional historian David Starkey comes to Folkestone Quarterhouse to discuss Magna Carta on Friday, June 12.

Known for his forthright views, David discusses the 13th century agreement that, imperfect though it was, and radically modified in its first ten years, limited for the first time the power of the monarch.

He begins at 7pm. Tickets cost £15. Visit www.quarterhouse.co.uk or call 01303 760750.

FAVERSHAM MEDIEVAL WEEKEND

Faversham will come alive with the sights and sounds of medieval England to celebrate the town’s ownership of a rare and valuable 1300 Magna Carta.

Centred around the historic Guildhall and Abbey Field at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School there will be music, street artists, historical re-enactments and plays, medieval displays, arts and crafts activities, traditional markets and stalls, food, drink and plenty of medieval atmosphere on Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14.

The Blean Re-enactment Society will be carrying out a staged “sealing of Magna Carta” in the Market Place and holding a medieval camp at the school, where they will be spending the weekend living as people did 800 years ago.

Visitors will be able to experience what life was like in the 13th century by walking through the encampment where they can see tournaments between the barons and skills including blacksmithing, cooking and spinning. There will be displays of falconry and children can take part in a knight school and learn to use swords.

Faversham Market and Best of Faversham stalls will be taking part, many of whom are embracing the medieval theme and will be decorating their stalls and selling Magna Carta-related products. On the Saturday night from 6pm a banquet will be held under the Guildhall which will include music, dancing and fire juggling.

Drama group All the World’s a Stage is involving local people to create a typical medieval drama to be performed during the weekend. The Faversham Society will also be holding historical town tours with a medieval flavour. Visit www.faversham.org and www.magnacartarediscovered.co.uk.

The lives of Kent citizens at the time of 1215 is the focus of a free exhibition at Canterbury’s Beaney House of Art and Knowledge.

The museum’s Joanna Jones says: “The city would have been a real community then, just as it is now, and the exhibition tells the story of some of its characters. These include Terric the Goldsmith, who was also an accountant to King John. Canterbury enjoyed a privileged status as one of five Magna Carta towns. This meant it held a significant position in both political and religious terms.”

One of the Beaney’s star exhibits is the rare chance to see a copy of the original 1215 Magna Carta, which has been preserved in Canterbury Cathedral’s archives. The exhibition runs until Sunday, September 5. Visit www.canterbury.co.uk/Beaney.