RUNNIMEDE, or RUNNYMEDE  , a meadow on the S. bank of the river Thames, England, in the county of Surrey and the parish of Egham . It is celebrated in connexion with the signature of Magna Carta (q.v.) by King John on the 15th of June 1215 . It has been disputed whether the ceremony took place actually in the meadow or on Magna Carta or Charter Island lying off it . The charter itself indicates Runnimede by name, but this may have included the island, which is the traditional site and was in 1217 the meeting-place of Henry III. and Louis (afterwards Louis VIII.) of France .