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Corporation Perambulates the Bounds

1928 , Southwold (Suffolk)

Cat no. 151

The Corporation of the Borough of Southwold undertake an ancient custom.

A proclamation is shown, giving notice to the Borough of Southwold that the Corporation will 'perambulate the Bounds of the Borough' on Monday, August 6th, 1928. Outside the Town Hall on Southwold High Street, residents and onlookers watch as the Corporation and their followers begin the perambulation equipped with the traditional willow canes to 'beat the bounds'. The group are also shown walking the seaside boundary along the beach, lead by a marching band and Scout group. Finally, Corporation leaders climb into rowing boats in order to follow the boundary which runs along the Walberswick side of the River Blyth.

Featured Buildings

The Town Hall, Southwold

Featured Events

Perambulating the Bounds, Southwold, 1928

Keywords

Ceremonies; Customs and traditions

Background Information

The Beating of the Bounds is an ancient custom. Equipped with willow canes, the party would proceed to the extreme points of the borough boundaries where a small boy was beaten with a cane. It was intended to teach him the limits of his home town for ever more. This had its use for it was not unknown for elderly men to testify in court regarding what lands belonged to whom. In later years the party would tap the boundary point instead. Part of the party went South onto the beach; the other part went north into the town. The party had to cross the river because the boundary ran along the Walberswick side. In this film the vicar is present. Another version of this ceremony is concerned with the Church and is connected to fertility rites

Manifestations

Corporation Perambulates the Bounds

  • Barcode
    INV367928
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Type
    MP4 H264 digital
    Dimension
    Duration
    0:00:41
    Modification Date
    16/10/2011
    Parts
    Reference
    732025
  • Barcode
    INV376287
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Type
    MP4 H264 digital
    Dimension
    Duration
    0:00:41
    Modification Date
    16/10/2011
    Parts
    Reference
    732024
  • Barcode
    INV363085
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Type
    MP4 H264 digital
    Dimension
    Duration
    0:00:41
    Modification Date
    16/10/2011
    Parts
    Reference
    732022
  • Activities
    Barcode
    INV363370
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Type
    DV digital
    Dimension
    Duration
    0:00:26
    Modification Date
    10/05/2011
    Parts
    Reference
    711269
  • Activities
    Barcode
    INV191267
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Type
    master digital
    Dimension
    Duration
    0:00:26
    Modification Date
    14/09/2010
    Parts
    Reference
    691539
  • Barcode
    INV248004
    Canonical Identifier
    VP-322
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Details
    Carrier Type
    16mm film
    Colour Type
    bw
    Dimension
    Duration
    0:01:00
    Has Image
    Y
    Identifier
    Modification Date
    25/06/2021
    Parts
    Reference
    562885
  • Activities
    Barcode
    INV234834
    Canonical Identifier
    A-810
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Details
    Carrier Type
    16mm film
    Colour Type
    bw
    Identifier
    Image Polarity
    negative
    Modification Date
    25/06/2021
    Parts
    Reference
    560766

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