A SPECTACULAR five-day celebration is wowing south Cumbria residents and visitors to mark the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta.

Cartmel Priory has the only key North West link to the Magna Carta, the document which set out official liberties and laws of the land under the reign of King John of England in 1215.

William Marshal, the first Earl of Pembroke who founded Cartmel Priory in 1189, was one of the barons who forced King John into signing the document enshrining basic freedoms. Marshal is recognised as England’s greatest knight.

A team of special effects experts, who have worked on Glastonbury Festival, have brought the Son et Lumiere projection show to Cartmel Priory. The illuminated projection features the life of Marshal.

It will be illuminated on the priory tower tonight and tomorrow night from 6.30pm and on Monday evening from 7pm. The show lasts around 15 minutes.

The film has been specially commissioned by Cartmel Priory from acclaimed video producer Andy Seaton who worked with a post graduate graphics team at Manchester Metropolitan University.

The centuries-old church is taking centre stage during the medieval themed Magna Carta 800 festival.

There is a magnificent Flower Pageant inside the priory, led by Joan Bentley, with the work of some 90 flower arrangers.

The village’s Fairfield Paddock also has Marshal’s Mesnie, a medieval camp. From 10.30am today and tomorrow there are displays of archery, sword fighting and armoury.

There are displays from Tracey Venter, of the Black Horses Fresian Stud and her stallion Droomwals, and concerts by leading musicians in the priory during the evenings until Tuesday.

The Reverend Nick Devenish, the vicar at Cartmel Priory, said the feedback has been brilliant from those who have seen previews of the events.

He said: “We have the most incredible flower pageant and sound and light display with the Son et Lumiere.

“In Cartmel we have this unbelievable link to William Marshal.

“We are the only link in the North West because of William Marshal.”

Mark Gill, executive director of the Magna Carta 800th Committee, has described Cartmel’s celebrations as one of the best.