Beating the Boys

It was formerly the custom, at certain intervals of time, to perambulate the bounds of each parish, a ceremony familiarity styled, 'beating the bounds'. Litanies and prayers were said for the increase of corn and fruit; tokens of boundaries were set up or restored, and the old curse was promounced against him who should remove his neighbour's landmark. The old custom of beating the boys at each boundary mark was with the object of impressng the parochial limits on their youthful minds. Gifts were sometimes subtituted for the whippings. The bounds of Portsmouth were beaten as late as 1813, and Portsea, 1824.

Taken from Portsmouth in the Past, Gates, 1926