Above: Start of Boundary Walk, 4 July 1906

Above: Gathering on Watter Yat 24 June 2006

Left: The second day - End of the walk

Keith Beven's panoramic photo of the "gathering" on Watter Yat can be seen from this link - click here. (a JPEG of 430 KB)

Report of the Centenary Walking of the Bounds of Mallerstang

At 10 am on Saturday, 24th June 2006, thirty four people (and 5 dogs) gathered at Watter Yat to commemorate the centenary of the last occasion when the Bounds of the Parish of Mallerstang had been walked, on 4th July 1906.

First Section: Watter Yat, via High Seat, to the County Boundary at Aisgill.

After photographs to record this historic occasion, and a Proclamation by John Hamilton the Chairman of the Parish Meeting, fifteen intrepid walkers (and 4 dogs) set off. They were joined at Tail Brig by two additional participating walkers. The party of seventeen completed the first part of the Walking of the Bounds at Springthwaite, Aisgill, where welcome refreshments were provided by the Parish Clerk, Mr Richard O’Connor, and Mrs Carole O’Connor.

Those taking part in the first section included eleven Mallerstang Residents, accompanied by six representatives from outside the dale:

RESIDENTS PARTICIPATING
Keith Beven, Fanny House
Simon Etheridge, Friths
Donal Gibney, Coach House
Annie Gregory, Friths
John Hamilton, The Thrang (Chairman)
Annie Hamilton-Gibney, Coach House
Mary Langley, Southwaite
Nigel McWhirter, Hollins (Vice-Chairman)
Ian Wade, School House
Margaret White, Old Chapel
David White, Old Chapel

PARTICIPATING OBSERVERS
Chris Hamilton (London representative)
Steve Rawlins (Kirkby Stephen representative)
Alan Sudder (Kirkby Stephen representative)
Caroline Woolstenholmes, White Birks (Yorkshire representative)
Ian Woolstenholmes, White Birks (Yorkshire representative)
David Černak, Slovakia (EU Monitor)

Second Section: County Boundary at Aisgill, via Wild Boar Fell, to Watter Yat

At 10 am on Sunday 25th June 2006, undaunted by low cloud and rain, five brave and hardy walkers (and 2 dogs) set off for the second section. Those taking part were:

Annie Hamilton-Gibney, Coach House
Nigel McWhirter, Hollins (Vice-Chairman)
Ian Wade, School House
Margaret White, Old Chapel
Ian Woolstenholmes, White Birks (Yorkshire representative)

The abovementioned report that our ancient bounds are still intact

and there have been no incursions from our neighbours.

25th June 2006

Proclamation by the Chairman

Ancient documents tell us that: “the boundary of Mallerstang was rid by Thomas, Earl of Thanet & Sheriffe of Westmorland, on Ye 17th day of September 1684, in the reign of Charles the second, by the grace of God King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland”…. (and probably other places too).

Thereafter, our bounds have been walked at regular intervals. But, by some unfortunate oversight, the last occasion was one hundred years ago. (Your Officers blame previous administrations for this oversight)!

On 4th July 1906, Mr William Bell, my predecessor as Chairman of Mallerstang Parish Meeting, unfurled the Union Jack and called on those gathered at this same spot to join him - thus ensuring that our boundaries had not been usurped by perfidious neighbours in Wharton, Nateby, Kirkby Stephen – or even by those benighted folk over the Yorkshire border.

So: Good People of Mallerstang: Do your duty; Stand up for your ancient rights... and follow me….

God Save the Queen
24 June 2006

THE BOUNDARY MARKERS of the Manor of Mallerstang

1. Beginning at Watergate Scar.
2. Thence through Sopkeld, otherwise Killing Close, to a place where a crab tree formerly stood which was marked by Henry Lord Clifford, great grandfather to George, late Earl of Cumberland, as his boundary mark; near which place in the year of our Lord 1651, when the said boundary was ridden for the Right Honourable Anne, Countess Dowager of Pembroke, stood an ash tree which upon that occasion was marked AP as a boundary mark.
3. Thence through Ash Bank (which is also part of Sopkeld), where a house was formerly built, through which house the boundary went.
4. Thence to the foot of Naitgill.
5. Thence up Naitgill by Ravenscar to Kitchen Gill foot.
6. Thence up Kitchen Gill to Tailbridge Syke.
7. Thence to Gingling Cove.
8. Thence through Lamps Moss to a grey stone in Careless Bank, on the north-east side of Fells End.
9. Thence to the lower end of Seavyman in Ulgill Head.
10. Thence to the north end of High Seat.
11. Thence as Heaven water deals to the south end of High Seat.
12. Thence over Little Sleddle Head to Gregory Chapel.
13. Thence along Gregory Band to a hurrock of stones at Langill Head.
14. Thence to the height of Hugh Seat Morville.
15. Thence as Heaven water deals to the Skaith of Skaites.
16. From the said Skaith of Skaites in a direct line to the first syke (on the east side thereof) above Lamb Folds.
17. Thence down Hell Gill Water to the White Birks.
18. Thence up Stubbing Rigg to Middle Gill, otherwise known as Smithy Gill Howe.
19. Thence to a hurrock of stones at the east end of Swarth Fell, called Swarth Fell Pike.
20. Thence to a hurrock of stones in Galloway_ Cate.
21. Thence as Heaven water deals to Blandston.
22. Thence to a hurrock of stones on Scandall Head.
23. Thence to the pike on Wildbore Fell.
24. Thence to the top of Mickle Arke.
25. Thence along Stoney Cate to Merepott.
26. Thence to the great cove at Greenlaw Head.
27. Thence to the head of Fothergill Beck.
28. Thence down Fothergill Beck to Eden Water.
29. Thence up Eden Water to Watergate Scar.

§ The charming term "as Heaven water deals" means following the course of a beck downstream from a watershed.

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