From the CITY OF OXFORD HIGH SCHOOL MAGAZINE VoL. LIII, ill JULY 1961 No. 172
After receiving an invitation from the Rev. Canon R. R. Martin, a small party of VIIth formers joined the traditional ceremony of Beating the Bounds of the Parish of St. Michael-at-the-North-Gate on the 11th May, Ascension Day, together with the Church Choir and some of the congregation.
The beating was done with long bamboo canes, with which the procession was armed. The bounds of the Parish are marked by crosses cut in stones and set in walls and pavements, the oldest, strangely enough, being in the store-room of F. W. Woolworth and Co. Ltd.
At each cross the following ritual was performed: the choir stood round the stone and, beating time on the cross with the canes, shouted ‘ Mark, mark, mark!’ until they were exhausted.
The rest of the procession filed past the stone, struck it, shouted “Mark!” and continued the march.
Recent photo of the bastion and city wall in the former playground of the school
From the church the party proceeded to Turl Street, down Market Street, through the Covered Market, the Roebuck and Boots to the Cornmarket, through Woolworth’s and Shoe Lane, down New Inn Hall Street to Frewin Hall, across the road to St. Peter’s Hall and over the wall into the School yard; along George Street and Broad Street to the Sheldonian, the Bodleian and from there through Brasenose College to Lincoln.
The procession was refreshed by the kind people at the Roebuck and Frewin Hall. At Lincoln College, where the Bound-Beaters from St. Martin and All Saints joined us, the traditional lunch of cheese, cakes and Ivy Beer was served, and afterwards the choirboys scrambled for hot pennies, thrown from the roof of the college.
All those who were lucky enough to take part would like to thank Canon Martin once more for his kindness in inviting them and their hosts en route and at Lincoln College.
J.E.J.