Riding the Boundaries Morpeth. April 24th 1924

Morpeth locals brave the gloomy weather and get in the saddle for a traditional boundary ride.

It's a chilly day in the Northumberland town of Morpeth as locals start out on a traditional boundary ride. Such events, commonly known as riding or 'beating' the bounds, date back to the fifth century. They were originally processions around a parish in order to give thanks to God and ask for blessings. Later, they also became associated with inspecting the boundaries of a settlement to record new dwellings and ensure security.

With the advent of proper mapping and other modern developments the historic need for boundary rides dwindled, but they have been kept up as a tradition in some areas. Many of the locals who braved the weather to watch the ride seem almost more interested in the presence of the film camera - and it's likely they would have come to the cinema later to catch a glimpse of themselves on screen.