Beating Lambeth's Bounds (part 1) A guided walk along the first mile of the Lambeth parish boundary.

Beating the Bounds is an ancient custom that was originally devised for local officials to inspect the parish boundary and the various markers thereof, and to fix the boundaries in minds of poor parishioners by having boys whacking the boundary with willow sticks as the party proceded and by beating or bumping a boy at each boundary marker. Tracing Lambeth parish's boundary is difficult, but we can follow it as closely as possible within today's street pattern in a vain search for surviving evidence of the border and as an excuse to see what we find in places that a guided tour might not otherwise visit and hear what was there in the past. For the avoidance of doubt, we will not be climbing over walls or processing through houses that straddle the boundary.

Willow wands not provided.

Your guide: Geoff Fairbairn, walkinglambeth@gmail.com

2 miles, finishing at Lambeth North Underground Station.