Thursday, May 14, 2015

Beating of the Bounds, Oxford 2015




Through out the year Oxford celebrates all kinds of eccentric traditions that are centuries old, strange, and delightful. Today was Ascension Day -- one of those unique and wonderful days that makes one shake one's head and say, "Only in Oxford!"   

Since medieval times, on Ascension day small parishes around England enact the annual “beating of the bounds” and mark their parish’s boundaries and jurisdiction. Only two Oxford churches now keep up the century-old custom, the City Church of St Michael-at-the-Northgate, and the University Church of St Mary the Virgin.  

I met up with a small group of women from the Oxford Newcomers group at St. Michael at North Gate for a lovely Ascension Day service and to "beat the bounds". After the service, we were given a long willow rods with which to beat the bounds.   We followed the wonderful Reverend Bob Wilkes throughout Oxford as told us a bit about the history of the marker and area and he marked each surviving parish boundary stones and parish marker with chalk. We in turn beat the marker and shouted "Mark, Mark, Mark!" 

When we passed through Brasenose College, we were served hot tea an coffee with brownies and cake in the great hall.  At that point we were all rather damp from the pouring rain and it was a delightful break. After  marking 29 boundary markers in about 2 hours, we ended up at Lincoln College and we were served a delicious lunch in their great Hall. 

After lunch there were two more century-old tradition to watch:

1: The door between Brasenose and Lincoln College was opened for 10 minutes -- the only time in the year when the door is open. Students from Brasenose were welcomed at Lincoln and offered ivy beer.

2.  The Hot Penny Toss. Since the middle ages, the heads of the colleges would invite the children of Oxford to come to the Lincoln Quad.  They would then toss scalding hot pennies from the Lincoln College Tower and if the children scampered to pick up the pennies, their fingers would get burned. This was supposed to teach them that greed was not good and would burn you.

Today, pennies are still tossed from the tower but they are no longer heated. Young students from Combe School scampered to gather as many as they could all-the-while squealing as they were being pelted with pennies from the height of the tower.   It was a sight to behold and a memorable ending to a delightfully eccentric day in Oxford.

Women from the Newcomers Club with their willow sticks


 Walking down Cornmarket Street with Vicar Wilkes

The first boundary marker was on the wall by Boots.  You can see the marking from last year, "SMNG 2014"  which means St. Michael North Gate 2014.


 One of the most meaningful parts of the tradition were the short prayers offered at the various markings, giving thanks for and asking for blessing upon Oxford and the people who live and work here. 

 

 One of the stone markings


 Bonn Square


 St. Peter's College


 One of the markers in on the side of the Clarendon building 

 

Brasenose College


 Lunch at Lincoln College


 Lincoln Great Hall with students from Combe School


The Hot Penny toss


 Students from Brasenose at Lincoln Quad watching the penny toss and drinking ivy beer



The Route we followed:

  • From St Michael’s Church down the west side of Cornmarket to the boundary stone on the wall of Boots 
  • Across Cornmarket to the Clarendon Centre, through Zara to St Peter’s College
  • Along the city wall behind the Old Boys’ High School, then beside O’Neill’s side passageway in New Inn Hall Street to George Street
  • Along George Street and Broad Street, and then down Catte Street to Brasenose College
  • Across the High and down King Edward Street and along Blue Boar Lane and into the back of the Town Hall
  • Across St Aldate’s and along Pembroke Street and into Marks & Spencer via the back door to reach the above boundary stone
  • Through Monsoon at 35 Queen Street and back into the Clarendon Centre, across Cornmarket, the City Tavern, and the covered market to lunch in Lincoln College.


More about the boundary stones and markers: 

http://www.oxfordhistory.org.uk/streets/parish_marks/st_michael_boundary_markers.html 


More about Ascension Day at Oxford: 


http://www.bnc.ox.ac.uk/about-brasenose/news/816-ascension-day-festivities

http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/9065629.Heaven_s_above_____it_s_Ascension_Day/

http://www.cherwell.org/sport/news/2013/05/09/students-celebrate-ascension-day


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