| Where: | Formerly Bodmin, Cornwall starting at the Priory Carpark with Hurling at the Salting Pool just North of Callywith |
| When: | Formerly April or May every 5 years (often on a Wednesday) |
| Time: | Formerly 8.45am onwards with Hurling at 5.30 |
Beating the Bounds normally took place every five years at Bodmin and this involved an 18 mile walk around the parish boundaries, followed by the throwing of a silver ball into the Salting Pool to be recovered for a cash prize, and a traditional Cornish Hurling match. Beating the Bounds customs took place in the past to check the parish and property boundaries and to ensure the neighbours didn’t encroach on land that wasn’t rightfully theirs and they are often associated with Ascension Day; at Bodmin the participants walked around the boundary in springtime, usually April or May. Hurling is the Cornish sport where a group of players pursue a small silver-covered ball to set goals at well-known locations, and play can be fast and furious.The event was organised by the local Rotary Club and participants were often sponsored to raise money for charity. In 2025 it was announced by the Council that the event will no longer take place as it “no longer meets the needs of Bodmin’s community. Changes to the town and surrounding areas have created ongoing challenges with accessibility, safety, and value for money” which mean that “Looking ahead, the focus will be on developing alternative traditional and heritage events that better reflect and engage our wider community.”
Helpful Hints
All ages of folk were welcome but dogs weren’t allowed on the walk.
In 2020 it was scheduled to take place on Wednesday 15th April, but owing to covid and problems organising the route it was postponed, and in 2025 it was announced that the event will no longer take place.
Click here for the Rotary Club Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/bodminrotary
Click here for more: https://bodminlive.com
Click here for exact timings and updates at the Rotary Club link, with full timetable : http://www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/page.php?PgID=479138&ClubID=1019
View this location on the map.
Kids are back to school on tues 14th April, so no able to do
Such a shame it’s this date had a few teenagers wanting to do this was hoping the week before would of been my 4th .. gutted ex
Hi Laura,
It’s not on this year at all- was due to be 15th April but it’s been postponed until next year owing to organisational problems (and might be on a weekend later in the year instead)- the organisers gave me this information just recently and no date has been set for 2021. Hope that helps!
Best wishes,
Averil
Hello,
I’m one of the Helliers on Bodmin riding day. I want to make sure we are involved in this. I can muster around 10 bodminites clad in kilts.
Is there some way to stay in the loop regarding dates?
Hi Tom,
Here at calendar customs we have no connection with the organisation of the event, but we know who does! It’s usually organised by the Rotary Club at the request of the Mayor of Bodmin and you can make contact with the Club at https://www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/contact.php?ClubID=1019 via their website or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/bodminrotary/
When I was making inquiries earlier in the year I used the website contact form and Tony Luker the secretary replied that they hope to organise the event for 2021 but that it might be on a weekend later in the year so more people could take part (it’s usually on a weekday in April or May). I thought I’d leave asking about it for a while since there were obviously a few things to iron out before a new date is chosen so haven’t had any news since February. I’m sure they’d love to hear from you and would welcome you all in your kilts! If you get a heads-up on the date let me know please and I’ll add it to the site, otherwise I’ll leave it til later on in the year to inquire direct.
Best of luck with it,
Averil
My husband grew up in Victoria Barracks, Bodmin and hasn’t stopped talking about taking part in the Beating the Bounds event. This was back in the 1950’s. Now living in Redruth but he would love to witness the ‘spectacle’ again. His is in his 80s now but would love to see this when it is on again!! How much is put out there in the county about this event?
Hi Carol,
Thanks for your message. I’d like to see it for myself as well- I was all set to attend in 2020 but then covid struck and as far as I know nothing further has been organised- the local Rotary Club and Mayor’s Office usually make all the arrangements and though I’ve inquired a couple of times I haven’t found any sign of it happening again yet…Maybe I’ll try contacting the Mayor’s Office in Bodmin again- if I find anything out I’ll let you know. It’s usually advertised a bit in advance but from what I remember it isn’t very widely publicised (even when It’s due to happen fairly soon). I hope it doesn’t fall by the wayside- but I’ll be surprised if it doesn’t get going again as the Cornish people are very good at preserving traditions. If it had gone ahead in 2020, the next one due would be 2025 to preserve the usual 5 year gap so here’s hoping for next year. Fingers crossed!
Best wishes,
Averil
Hi Carol,
I wonder if your husband might be interested in seeing images of beating the bounds from the George Ellis collection? George Ellis was a photographer living in Bodmin in the 1950s – your husband might remember him. There are some pictures of this event from the 1940s and 60s on the Kresen Kernow website.
A link to photos of the event in 1946: https://kresenkernow.org/SOAP/detail/4f55a9ca-0447-4891-ac72-760e0855b842/
And another in 1963: https://kresenkernow.org/SOAP/detail/b39cc551-011f-4f40-9679-888003fbd7e3/
There are more images like these on the Kresen Kernow website and more appearing every day as they digitise the collection and publish the images online.
I’d love to hear about your husband’s memory of the event if he would be happy to share? I am currently leading a project working in Bodmin with young people where we are looking at the collection of George Ellis images and creating small art pieces related to Bodmin’s past and people’s memories. It sounds like your husband might have lots of memories!
All the best,
Ellie