The first Beating of the Bounds of Littlehempston Parish in living memory will take place around the 12 miles of parish boundary over two weekends in September. Now is the time to sign up for the walk, either on Saturday 21st September or Sunday 29th September, or even better, both days.
This is your opportunity to help make a little bit of local history and also have the rare opportunity of seeing parts of our parish that normally are not accessible. Around 25 landowners have been contacted and have given permission to walk across their lands on these two days.
The first day will start at the church, travel anticlockwise around the parish and take in the Mare and Foal Sanctuary, Uphempston and ending at Lillisford Farm. On the second day, we will start at Lillisford Farm and include Buckyette, Winton House and Hampstead and finish back at the church for refreshments. At the end of the walk, each participant will receive a handsome certificate.
This traditional English custom dates back to before the Norman Conquest, where members of the community would walk the boundaries of the parish to share the knowledge of where they lay, and to ask for protection and blessings for the lands. The ceremony had an important practical purpose – checking the boundaries was a way of preventing encroachment by neighbours, because sometimes boundary markers would be moved or lines obscured. A folk memory of the true extent of the parish was therefore necessary to maintain integrity of borders by embedding knowledge in oral traditions. But it was also an opportunity for celebration, festivity and having a good catch-up with the neighbours! A tradition well worth preserving.
Children are welcome to join the walk with their parents and, although we have generously been offered ‘pit stops’ at several places, please bring a packed lunch and something to drink. Stout footwear is recommended and come dressed for the weather and for various terrains, which will be uneven and steep in places. Our farmer landowners have said they are happy for dogs to accompany their owners, but they must be on leads at all times. Please bring poo bags to clean up after your pets. Worried it might be too far? There will be vehicles that can return you to the church if required.
Please register if you’d like to take part, so certificates can be prepared and catering numbers sorted. Get in touch with organiser Mike Wright by ringing 01803 812112 or 07902 013024, or send him a message using his contact form. Volunteers as road marshalls, back up drivers or to help with refreshments at the end would be very much appreciated. Let Mike know if you’d like to help out. This is a free event, but if you wish to make a donation, there’ll be a collection for The Devon Air Ambulance on the day.