Beating the Poole Sea Bounds

28th April 2007

Arrival of the Mayor of Wareham

The Rotary Club of Poole was delighted to be associated with this ancient ceremony. Poole's boundary at sea was laid down in the Winchelsea Certificate of 1364, with the first ceremonial beating of the bounds in 1612..

Admiral's Honorary Secretary, Brian Galpin (right) with Ian Andrews, Society of Poole Men

The ceremony commences at the Custom House on Poole Quay with the opening of The Admiralty Court in the morning. The floatiller then goes to meet the Mayor of Wareham in the Wareham Channel.

The purpose of the day is to check for any encroachments and to re-inforce the sea boundary, and young people are taken round the boundary, much as they presently do for land boundaries of many other towns around the country.

The Humber Barrel denoting a point beyond Old Harry rocks

However as no physical objects such as a trees, gate posts or similar tangible landmarks can be beaten at sea, in times long past the hands of the boys were smitten and the the girls had their hands pricked with a pin, at notable locations, in order to impress on their minds these locations and pass them on to their children. This is known as the "Pins and Points" ceremony. These somewhat barbaric acts are now only symbollically carried out, and no one gets hurt. The boys are "beaten" with a specially made comemorative leather thong and the girls are "pricked" (symbollically) with a "bodkin".

As with many ancient ceremonies, there is also the lighter side and traditionally the Mayor's launch, whilst safely escorted around the waters by the RNLI, Harbour Master and Her Majesty's Royal Marines, somehow

always manages to be attacked by the local Poole Pirates, often ably assisted by the RNLI's inshore RIB.

 

On returning to the Town Quay in the afternoon the Admiral tries the pirates (and always finds them guilty), with the penalty of "Walking the Plank". The Admiral's Court is then closed until the next time.

The day is witnessed throughout by the "Jury" comprising the Society of Poole Men. Some of them are seen above being assisted in their duties by Her Majesty's Royal Marines.

 

 

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