Pevensey Parish Councillor, Helen Burton, begins her role as a community correspondent with Bay Life with the story of an ancient tradition carried down through the centuries and still honoured today.
Beating the Bounds
Helen Burton, Pevensey Parish Councillor
On Saturday (6 June) several Pevensey Parish councillors followed the centuries old tradition of ‘beating the bounds’.
Dating from Anglo-Saxon times this custom involves visiting the boundaries of the parish to learn where they are.
Historically, at a time when no maps existed, the boundaries would have been walked and marked so that younger parishioners could learn where the boundaries were in order to carry on the knowledge to future generations.
Young boys from the parish were taken on the walk and were beaten with tree boughs or bumped on the rocks at each parish boundary marker in the hope that the boys would remember where the boundary stones were!
Luckily things have moved on a bit since then, but although good maps of the parish exist the trip was a very useful exercise. I have lived in the village for over twenty years, but in tracing the parish boundaries we visited several places that I had never been before and we all got a real sense of the parish.
As well as being able to make assessments of the condition of roads, street signs and public footpaths we learnt a lot about local history from Chairman Maurice Gilbert which was fascinating.
Most of the trip was in a minibus but we also got out to walk the boundary according to tradition in two places. (No beatings occurred)! Walking along the 1066 trail from Pevensey Castle to the other side of the new bypass was a highlight for me and a walk to be recommended.
I understand that if we had walked further we would have ended up at Chilley Farm shop where they serve cream teas so that is a walk well worth attempting if you haven’t already done it!
If you want to learn more about our parish pick up one of the PVP’s guides to Pevensey, Westham and Pevensey Bay. There is a great heritage trail map you can follow which takes you through historical places of interest and some great places to eat and drink on the way.
There is also an organised tour every Wednesday at 11am which takes approximately one hour. Meet at the car park entrance in Pevensey on the east side of the castle, suggested donation £2.
Helen Burton
IMAGE CREDIT: Beating the Bounds in Pevensey, Robert Slater
image shows wall marking boundary edge of parish
