Beating the Bounds of the Hitchin Parish – Sunday 3^rd May 2009

99 Walkers, 14 supporters and 6 dogs took part in the revival of the ancient tradition of the Beating the Bounds walk, on 3rd May.  The event proved a great success, with a good representation of walkers from all four churches in the Hitchin Anglican Parish, accompanied by friends from other churches as well as visitors from abroad!

Historically, the custom of 'Beating the Bounds' involved local inhabitants walking around their parish boundary, stopping to 'beat' landmarks that denoted the extent of the boundary. Whilst the ritual has largely died out across the country, it is now represented in Hitchin by the Parish boundary walk.

Apart from the fundraising, the walk was an interesting reminder of the extent of Hitchin's traditional parish boundary, an opportunity for fellowship with a chance to talk to people from other churches and the nurturing of a real sense of unity within the Parish. 

A large number of walkers congregated in the sun, outside St Faith's for the 11.30am start.  Starting and finishing at St Faith's was a departure from earlier years, although it had the benefit of the church being a short stop from the Parish Boundary and the refreshments that were laid on for the tired walkers at the finish.

The route around the Parish boundary is about 12 miles, although it has the great advantage that it is possible to join and leave from many points on the way.  This proved useful for those arriving after later services, as well as for clergy leaving for afternoon baptisms.

The first stop was the Windmill pub at Charlton for lunch.  Most walkers came armed with sandwiches which, supplemented by liquid refreshment from the pub, made a welcome break. 

The trickiest part of the walk is the crossing of the A505 where Hoars Lane meets Carters Lane.  Here, Philip Mitchell and Elizabeth Cranfield donned Hi Viz safety vests and stationed themselves at the crossing, to see the walkers safely over. 

A detour from the actual Parish boundary is a slight incursion into the Parish of Ickleford, partly because the footpath runs out at that point and also because the Green Man pub makes another welcome stop after about two thirds of the way.  Unlike the practice walk that a few of us had taken in March in the cold and wet, the May walk was held on a lovely spring day which must have helped a few people in making last minute decisions to go or not!

Leaving Ickleford, we climbed the long hill up to the Stotfold Road, on the edge of Letchworth, where Robin and Wendy Sternberg met us to offer water in return for a donation to the Aqua Aid Lifeline Fund.
 

After another brief incursion, this time over the border into Letchworth, we took a new part of the route, more faithful to the actual Parish boundary, dropping down onto the Greenway before crossing the Cambridge Road and taking the familiar path around the North Eastern part of the Parish, arriving at St Faith's for welcome refreshments comprising ....well everything you would want after a 12 mile walk! 

May I thank my fellow organising team, Jon Sabey-Corkindale, Philip Mitchell, Elizabeth Cranfield, Anne and Aidan Lawes, as well as Brenda Gardner and Doreen Peacock for the magnificent refreshments and the many other people who helped out in some way. Finally, of course, all the walkers, donors and sponsors who enabled us to raise funds towards the running of the Parish. With a record number of walkers from every church, we will certainly be organising this event again next year......so please be ready to mark your diaries!

Michael Woodward

>> For details of the Beating the Bounds tradition and historic sites on route, see A history of the Hitchin Parish boundary, compiled by local archivist, Aidan Lawes