Emily Hall

Rebel Wat Tyler, essayist William Hazlitt, regicide Andrew Broughton, Lord of the Flies author William Golding, anti-slavery campaigner William Wilberforce, Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli and the US President George Washington all have one thing in common - Maidstone.

We have a wealth of interesting historical characters who have lived in our town, and the British Library wants the public to nominate their favourite to celebrate a new exhibition.

Taking Liberties - the struggle for British Freedoms and Rights is the library’s winter exhibition and will run from Friday, October 31, to Sunday, March 1.

The exhibition will unite a series of documents and manuscripts that have changed the course of history, caused civil unrest or been subject to fierce debate.

Included are the Magna Carta of 1215, the death warrant of Charles I of 1649, which was signed by Mayor of Maidstone Andrew Broughton, and the Articles of Union of 1706, which joined the Parliaments of England and Scotland.

John Tuck, the British Library’s head of British collections, has described the documents and manuscripts as “steeped in blood”.

He said: “Taking Liberties will explore the lives and individual acts of courage of the people who fought for our political rights and freedoms and seek to understand what drove them to pursue change.”

Among items included are a suffragette’s prison scrapbook and Oliver Cromwell’s oath as Lord Protector. The exhibition also aims to look at more contemporary struggles and is asking readers to nominate anyone today who has fought for their liberty or livelihood.

He or she may have been a leading voice for women’s rights, championed freedom of belief, taken a stance against racism, or campaigned for an environmental initiative or health service for the local community.

Any winners picked by the British Library may be featured in the exhibition.

To nominate your Maidstone hero, either historical or contemporary, write to 6-7 Middle Road, Maidstone, ME14 1TG or email messengernews@thekmgroup.co.uk