Beating of the Bounds

In the days when the parish was the basic unit of taxation and government, exact definition of the boundaries of the parish was very important.  Children had to be shown where the jurisdiction and responsibilities of their parish extended to, neighbouring parishes told not to trespass and the exact location of the boundary stones verified, in case anyone had moved them.  Beating of the Bounds is a custom which St Michael at the North Gate parish has observed since 1428.  Nowadays, it is more about maintaining of tradition, and in a City parish such as ours, instead of walking through open fields we walk through shops.  For example, there is a boundary stone in the middle of Marks and Spencer.