1-232-630 - Reproduced by permission of Historic England/Heritage Images

'Beating the bounds' ritual, St Mary And St Johns Church, Cowley, Oxford, Oxfordshire,1914. View showing a group of men and young boys posed outside the church with willow sticks taking part in the 'beating the bounds' ritual, whereby prayers were said at points around the parish. The sticks were used to mark or beat the parish boundaries. View showing a group of men and young boys posed outside the church with willow sticks taking part in the 'beating the bounds' ritual, whereby prayers were said at points around the parish. The sticks were used to mark or beat the parish boundaries