Trowbridge Museum has welcomed a 6ft tall statue of Henry de Bohun ahead of the start of its exhibition for the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta.
The statue will take pride of place at the museum for five months, as part of an exhibition about the Magna Carta and Trowbridge.
In 1215, de Bohun was one of 25 barons elected to ensure King John honoured the Magna Carta, the first charter to limit the power of the monarch and uphold the rights of individuals.
The plaster maquette, a French term meaning a model for a larger statue, was used to cast the statue in bronze. It was sculpted by Thomas Thornycroft in the mid-19th century and displayed in the House of Lords, before going on to the Westgate Towers Museum, Canterbury.
Trowbridge Museum manager Hannah Lyddy said: “It’s great to have the maquette here and he has created quite a buzz.
“He is going to be a part of our Magna Carta exhibition, called Game of Barons, which will be a celebration of all things medieval, especially focusing on the Magna Carta anniversary.
“There will be lots of exhibits to entertain children and plenty to interest adults. We will have a faithful facsimile of the Magna Carta with a transcription.”
The exhibition, which includes information on daily life, food, warfare and the troubled reigns of Henry II and Richard the Lionheart, runs from February 28 to July 25.
As well as the exhibition, the Civic Centre will host a conference on King John and Magna Carta England on April 25, before Horrible Histories brings its new live show about the times to town on July 18 and 19.
There will be four performances of the live show, which is part three of Barmy Britain, at the Civic Centre.
Hayley Bell, leisure activities manager for Trowbridge Town Council, said: “This is the world premiere of the new Horrible Histories show and it will tie in well with the Magna Carta celebrations.
“We will have shows for the local schools on the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, before the weekend shows, and we are going to turn the front of the Civic Centre into a medieval castle. It is very exciting.”
Tickets for the Horrible Histories show cost £15 each and are available at www.trowbridgecivic.co.uk
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