Cara Leland Rogers Broughton
Following the death of her husband, Cara Broughton was created Lady Fairhaven in his honour and their eldest son, Urban Huttleston Rogers Broughton, made the first Lord Fairhaven.
The family was determined to create a lasting memorial to Urban Broughton and decided upon the lands at Runnymede because, despite their historical significance (signing of the Magna Carta in 1215 by King John), they were still under threat from developers.
During 1930 two trustees, Sir Reginald Poole (representing the London solicitors Lewis and Lewis) and A C Tranter, vicar of Egham, began to acquire land at Runnymede, later to be transferred to the National Trust.
By 1931 most of the land at Runnymede and Long Mead had been purchased.
They failed only to secure two narrow strips at the eastern (Staines) end and a stretch bordering the Thames at the western entrance to Long Mead.
After successful negotiations involving some twelve separate transactions, 182½ acres of land were given to the National Trust on 7 August 1931, ensuring the famous meadow protection against development for all time.
Lady Cara died in 1939.
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