Beating the bounds: Difference between revisions
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The route varied (referenced in the 1903 newspaper clipping - The Morpeth Herald and Reporter September 26th 1903) but it was roughly from the centre of Bellingham to the north where the Golf Course is now and where any threat from the "troublesome Scots" would come. | The route varied (referenced in the 1903 newspaper clipping - The Morpeth Herald and Reporter September 26th 1903) but it was roughly from the centre of Bellingham to the north where the Golf Course is now and where any threat from the "troublesome Scots" would come. | ||
[[File:1 Riding the Bounds c.1902.jpg| | [[File:1 Riding the Bounds c.1902.jpg|center|alt=1. Riding the Bounds circa 1902|1. caption]] | ||
The person bearing the flag seems to have been from the Johnson family. I do not know when it stopped but there has been an occasional revival in recent years. The ceremony is mentioned in the 1926 Guide to Bellingham and is repeated word for word in the 1932 Guide. I suspect that the ceremony was suspended during WW2 and was never formally revived, along with Cuddy's Fair that went with it. | The person bearing the flag seems to have been from the Johnson family. I do not know when it stopped but there has been an occasional revival in recent years. The ceremony is mentioned in the 1926 Guide to Bellingham and is repeated word for word in the 1932 Guide. I suspect that the ceremony was suspended during WW2 and was never formally revived, along with Cuddy's Fair that went with it. | ||
[[File:3a Riding the Bounds 1906.jpg|center|alt=3a Riding the Bounds 1906]] | |||
Interestingly, pictures 3a and 3b were taken by H O Thompson, brother-in-law of W P Collier and picture 1 was taken by Henry Waitt, who died on 14th October 1904 so he might have taken picture 2. I can find hardly anything about William Johnson, the bearded gentleman on the horse and carrying the Duke’s banner (see newspaper article). He may have been born in 1833 but clearly inherited a long family tradition. I don't think we have any more information in the Heritage Centre but one or two of our older volunteers may retain some recollections from their ancestors. | |||
Hexham Courant 24/09/1904 The old custom of riding the bounds was observed at Bellingham where a mounted procession under the Duke of Northumberland’s flag, accompanied by a piper, skirted all the Duke’s possessions in the village. | Hexham Courant 24/09/1904 The old custom of riding the bounds was observed at Bellingham where a mounted procession under the Duke of Northumberland’s flag, accompanied by a piper, skirted all the Duke’s possessions in the village. | ||
Revision as of 10:36, 22 August 2021
Common Riding / Riding the Bounds / Beating the Bounds / Riding the Boundaries was a common practice in Border towns such as Bellingham, Langholm and, in particular, Hawick, where it still has a firm hold. It was the local Lord of the Manor, in this case the Duke of Northumberland, stamping his mark on his property and was important before the 1707 Act of Union between England and Scotland. It became more of a token ceremony after that date when landowners could impress the tenantry and was often held at the same time as fairs, in this case Cuddy's Fair on the first Saturday after the 15th September. It was a time for merrymaking and drinking!
The route varied (referenced in the 1903 newspaper clipping - The Morpeth Herald and Reporter September 26th 1903) but it was roughly from the centre of Bellingham to the north where the Golf Course is now and where any threat from the "troublesome Scots" would come.
The person bearing the flag seems to have been from the Johnson family. I do not know when it stopped but there has been an occasional revival in recent years. The ceremony is mentioned in the 1926 Guide to Bellingham and is repeated word for word in the 1932 Guide. I suspect that the ceremony was suspended during WW2 and was never formally revived, along with Cuddy's Fair that went with it.
Interestingly, pictures 3a and 3b were taken by H O Thompson, brother-in-law of W P Collier and picture 1 was taken by Henry Waitt, who died on 14th October 1904 so he might have taken picture 2. I can find hardly anything about William Johnson, the bearded gentleman on the horse and carrying the Duke’s banner (see newspaper article). He may have been born in 1833 but clearly inherited a long family tradition. I don't think we have any more information in the Heritage Centre but one or two of our older volunteers may retain some recollections from their ancestors.
Hexham Courant 24/09/1904 The old custom of riding the bounds was observed at Bellingham where a mounted procession under the Duke of Northumberland’s flag, accompanied by a piper, skirted all the Duke’s possessions in the village.
