Beating the Bounds, Tower of London, Thursday, May 26, 2022.
The Tower of London’s, Chief Yeoman Warder, Pete McGowran, left, crosses Tower Bridge Road as he leads a group around the “Tower Liberties” Thursday, May 26, 2022, during the ceremony of “Beating the Bounds” to mark Ascension Day. Armed with willow wands, choir boys and local children beat the markers at the command of the Warders and the Chaplain, for residents to be aware of the Tower’s boundaries. At top left, is Tower Bridge, at top right, the Tower of London, and behind is the Shard. MG8875
In medieval and early modern society, a parish was a community: it was where you were christened, married and buried; the parish church set the tithes to pay and provided spiritual nourishment and security in return. Knowing the boundaries of the parish was crucial to a community’s identity and the residents’ responsibilities. On the evening of Ascension Day, a group from every parish and various governing bodies in England would walk around the parameters of their land. Each boundary post would be beaten to mark it out in the minds of the younger generations and the clergy would pray for the land along the way. This tradition was known as “Beating the Bounds.” The area surrounding the Tower is known as the ‘Tower Liberties’ – this area is under the jurisdiction of the Tower of London and independent of the City of London; up until 1894, the Tower Liberties had their own county government. This independent status made it vital for residents to be aware of the Tower’s boundaries. There are twenty-two surviving boundary markers surrounding the Tower, many bearing the letters WD for ‘War Department’ from the 19th century, and each one is visited when “Beating the Bounds.” Since the fourteenth century, the location of the markers was firmly impressed on the minds of young members of the community through the procession. Armed with willow wands, choir boys and local children beat the boundary markers at the command of the Warders and the Chaplain. (Historic Royal Palaces)
All pictures in my Photostream are Copyrighted © Olliepix All Rights Reserved Please do not download and use without my permission.
Beating the Bounds, Tower of London, Thursday, May 26, 2022.
The Tower of London’s, Chief Yeoman Warder, Pete McGowran, left, crosses Tower Bridge Road as he leads a group around the “Tower Liberties” Thursday, May 26, 2022, during the ceremony of “Beating the Bounds” to mark Ascension Day. Armed with willow wands, choir boys and local children beat the markers at the command of the Warders and the Chaplain, for residents to be aware of the Tower’s boundaries. At top left, is Tower Bridge, at top right, the Tower of London, and behind is the Shard. MG8875
In medieval and early modern society, a parish was a community: it was where you were christened, married and buried; the parish church set the tithes to pay and provided spiritual nourishment and security in return. Knowing the boundaries of the parish was crucial to a community’s identity and the residents’ responsibilities. On the evening of Ascension Day, a group from every parish and various governing bodies in England would walk around the parameters of their land. Each boundary post would be beaten to mark it out in the minds of the younger generations and the clergy would pray for the land along the way. This tradition was known as “Beating the Bounds.” The area surrounding the Tower is known as the ‘Tower Liberties’ – this area is under the jurisdiction of the Tower of London and independent of the City of London; up until 1894, the Tower Liberties had their own county government. This independent status made it vital for residents to be aware of the Tower’s boundaries. There are twenty-two surviving boundary markers surrounding the Tower, many bearing the letters WD for ‘War Department’ from the 19th century, and each one is visited when “Beating the Bounds.” Since the fourteenth century, the location of the markers was firmly impressed on the minds of young members of the community through the procession. Armed with willow wands, choir boys and local children beat the boundary markers at the command of the Warders and the Chaplain. (Historic Royal Palaces)
All pictures in my Photostream are Copyrighted © Olliepix All Rights Reserved Please do not download and use without my permission.