Old English customs : even farther back in English history

In an old English custom, called "beating the bounds," is performed to denote the boundaries of a church parish. Choir boys, wearing robes, cassocks, & square academic caps (“mortarboards”) stand in a line while holding leafless willow boughs. The boughs are used in a procession to physically mark the boundary lines by beating a path with them. In the middle of the line two choir boys hold a third boy upside down. This practice is to “beat the knowledge” of the boundaries into a boy. Behind them are men, women, and a priest in ecclesiastical robes. Three men wear top hats.

Publication date: 1937-12-05

Size: 12.5 x 18 cm

Publisher: Tribune Company

Print type: grayscale

Language:

• English

Geography:

• London (England)

Subject(s):

• Hats--1930-1940
• Robes--1930-1940
• Top hats--1930-1940
• Men--Clothing & dress--England--1930-1940
• Women--Clothing & dress--England--1930-1940
• Priests--England--1930-1940
• Rites & ceremonies--England--1930-1940
• Manners & customs--England--1930-1940
• Boundaries--England--1930-1940
• Churches--England--1930-1940
• Religious processions--England--1930-1940
• Choirboys--1930-1940
• Boys--England--1930-1940

Genre(s):

• Photographs

Type(s):

• still image
• text

Copyright(s):

• These materials are either in the public domain, according to U.S. copyright law, or permission has been obtained from rights owners. The digital version and supplementary materials are available for all educational uses worldwide.

Is part of:

• The Janet A. Ginsburg Chicago Tribune Image Collection

Source(s):

• Chicago Sunday Tribune (December 5, 1937), Graphic Section, p. 11

Format(s):

• application/pdf
• image/jpeg

Contributor(s):

• Acme Newspictures (New York, N.Y.)