GRANT funding of £4,000 has been awarded to Durham Cathedral from the Magna Carta Trust for the creation of a high-quality replicas.

The cash for copies of the 1216 edition of the Magna Carta and its 1217 edition of the Forest Charter, comes as it was revealed that almost 250,000 people viewed the an exhibition featuring the historic documents, which closed at the end of last month.

The grant will facilitate an ongoing learning programme at Durham Cathedral and enable potential loans to worldwide institutions and exhibitions, further extending the impact and legacy of this 800th anniversary year of the Magna Carta.

Head of Collections at Durham Cathedral, Lisa di Tommaso, said: “Our original copies are so precious and fragile that we can only lend them out in extremely rare circumstances and then only when very stringent conditions can be met.

“Their condition also limits when we are able to produce them for scholars who may wish to research them, or to visiting groups who would like to see a copy up close.

“The new high quality replicas will allow many more scholars and visitors to access the documents, and increase the number of people who can learn about how the Magna Carta influenced the way we live today and its historical significance.”

Durham Cathedral’s Magna Cartas and Forest Charters form part of the Cathedral archives, which date back to the 11th century and represent one of the most complete surviving monastic archives in Britain and Europe.

They comprise original charters, many with their seals still attached ; none more important than three unique engrossments of Magna Carta and three Forest Charters.