John F Kennedy Memorial — Attraction in Borough of Runnymede

Designed by Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe, in Portland stone, unveiled by the Queen in 1965 on American soil a gift of the UK o the USA.

It is based on Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, reached via a path made of irregular granite sets that are wide and gentle in their approach.

The engraved words are taken from J.F.Kennedy's inaugural speech.

A fitting part in the eight centurues that build upon the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215, here at Runnynede.

Come and discover how rebellion was met with unity, flowed by a fall and rise to the saving of Runnynede for the nation.

It is a memorial landscape with wonderful meddow, flora and fauna whose legacy with the Magna Carta came to stand for a set of principles: liberty, justice and freedom under the law.

To roam around here, is to experience something of a gratitude that these are words that live and breathe here and far beyond.

For me this is a place of thanksgiving, that can help inform each of us as to how we exercise these principle in daily life with each other, no matter who the other is.

Let us continue to help all to stand with each other daily in the ordinariness of life, with a liberty and freedom as removes injustices, so all can be...

This isn’t the highlight of the park. Writ in Water is by far the best bit. The American soil thing is interesting trivia but led to at least an hour of hypothetical legal questions from my nine year old - none of which I knew the answer to. Bluffed it reasonably convincingly I think.

Most importantly though, there is a path near the top of the slope, the shape of which is so eye-blisteringly ugly that I am leaving this review in an effort to warn aesthetically sensitive people. If just one person is saved from the trauma I experienced, it will have been worth it. I have also included a photograph of said path, but I warn to you prepare yourself before viewing and proceed with extreme caution.

Is it supposed to be a talon - of a Bald Eagle perhaps? I don’t know. It’s really really really bad though. In fact, until 15 minutes ago, when I saw a 1970s wooden cross formed from letters that read JESUS, it was the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen.

See JESUS cross photo for reference. Photo...

Visited today which is the 60th anniversary of his shooting. Hence a few wreaths of flowers had been left - but I noted none were from American's not even the US Ambassador or the American Embassy, which one might expect given the day; and all the other people I saw there were also all English!

As others have mentioned there are steps leading up to the memorial - these are granite cobblestone and could be tricky in the wet.

Interesting fact is this is actually the ONLY US soil in the UK - the US Airbases and even the US Embassy are not US soil, but following a Crown decree the acre site was gifted to the United States federal government so that the memorial would stand on American soil. That said the site is well maintained by the National Trust.

Be aware that Sat. Nav. misdirects, nearest car parking is at the National Trust Magna...