September 2024 - Perambulation. What a wonderful word. The act of walking around, surveying land, or touring. In Victorian times to perambulate was to walk leisurely and for pleasure, and it’s where we get the word ‘pram’ from, although these days its probably died off now, as it's more fashionable to say pushchair or buggy perhaps. In English law however, it has an historical meaning which is to ‘establish the bounds of a municipality by walking around it’ and it’s this that leads us, in early September, to the City of Lichfield in South Staffordshire, to celebrate and uphold a tradition that has stood for over 470 years.
In the year 1553, Lichfield became a City and a County in its own rite, by charter of the queen Mary, in the first year of her reign and no longer a ‘parcel’ of Staffordshire. In those days, this was a big thing. The charter meant that, amongst other things, the revenue from fines imposed by the Courts no longer went to the Sheriff of Staffordshire but to its own Sheriff who would be appointed on the feast of St. Thomas and continue until the feast of St. Michael.
Holding the title of Sheriff, however, was a double-edged sword. It was a huge honour. You held the title, were responsible for maintaining law and order and seeing that justice had been done, and for collecting the taxes and deciding how they would be spent - after providing the King with his share - but if the good and kind people of Lichfield didn’t pay their taxes and fines in full you were expected to make up the difference. In addition, you were expected to host judges and visiting dignitaries providing them with protection, accommodation and entertainment, again out of your own pocket, all of this made the position quite undesirable in the eyes of many, who then went to great lengths to avoid being chosen - but if you were, you had to serve.
Another duty of the Sheriff though, was ‘to perambulate the limits of the city and county so that the boundaries thereof might be better ascertained and duly protected’. This was to be done annually and eventually became known as ‘the beating the bounds’. The duty would be carried out on the eighth day of September, the feast of the Nativity of the blessed Virgin Mary. Even in those days however, to perambulate the whole city and county would be an arduous task and take days to do, so the Sheriff took to riding a horse, and so began the tradition of the Sheriff’s Ride.
Today, Lichfield has ceded much of its authority back to the County of Staffordshire, but it still appoints a Sheriff and upholds the tradition. In 2024, the Sheriff of Lichfield is Cathy Wood, but now the role is purely a ceremonial one so I’m guessing she doesn’t have to fish down the back of the sofa looking for anything she can find to make up any tax deficit the city may have. What a relief ! This year also sees the appointment of the first Junior Sheriff, Grace Francis, who will also be relieved to hear that the contents of her piggy bank remain safe and sound.
On the day everyone is assembled outside the Guildhall, the sky is darkening with storm clouds gathering overhead, there’s a 40% chance of rain and those odds are getting shorter. This event goes ahead regardless of the weather and it’s only Covid that’s ever put a stop to it in many a year. The Sheriff announces to us all what today is all about and has a long list of those to thank who have made it all possible. There’s a special mention for some who are gifted a red rose as a tribute and thank you.
Just before 10.30, the horse and carriage drew up to the entrance ready to receive the dignitaries, but it’s not certain who those that clambered in actually were as the Sheriff herself was crammed into a pedal powered rickshaw, known the Big Red Bike, to highlight the work of the charity of the same name, which enables those who love cycling, but can’t do so independently, to live the experience once again. The queen Mary, elegantly attired in a burgundy, silken gown was seen getting into a very modern BMW X5 - the modern version of horsepower, if you will. Shortly after the procession started to make its way out of the city centre and around the first few miles of the route. The horse and carriage led the way, then the Big Red Bike, the BMW and finally a selection of horses and riders and cyclists, heading off to meet the rest of their posse.
Over seventy horses apparently registered to take part in the eighteen-mile ride for which they’ve paid the princely sum of £50, but only a couple of dozen could be seen - maybe the weather was a little off putting for some. The cyclists have a tougher journey mind, as their ride is almost double that of the horses at a huge 34 miles but has only cost them £20. Most of the proceeds are donated to the Sheriff of Lichfield’s chosen charities.
…and that’s it for the moment. We all have to wait it out now for the next five hours or so (!) whilst the perambulation actually takes place.
The ride now heads out to Elmhurst, Curborough and Streethay, down the Burton Road and Cappers Lane, before dissecting Darnford Moors Golf Club and reaching the halfway stage, the nine-mile marker for the horses and a gruelling sixteenth for the cyclists where they all meet at Freeford Manor around midday - if everything was going to plan - for refreshments and the obligatory loo break. Quite how they managed to cover such distances in such a short space of time beggars’ belief, but they did. It was a bit disconcerting to see the horse ambulance and a paramedic head into the manner as well. Let’s hope that this was purely a precautionary measure and nothing more serious was afoot.
Around forty-five minutes later, with everyone duly fed and watered, they’re off again heading towards Evelyn Wood before dismounting for the tunnel, just before the eleven mile mark, over the Birmingham Road, running parallel with Watling Street before entering Wall Lane after thirteen miles, then through the extremes of Pipe Hill, straight through the middle of Hilltop Farm and Jubilee Wood / Peace Plantation before entering Abnalls Lane and doubling back on themselves towards the 16 mile marker. It’s at Maple Hayes Hall where the horses get to ‘freeform canter’ to the cries of ‘tally ho’.
The home straight saw those on four legs finally meet with those on two wheels, as they’re kept apart from each other for much of the two rides, before heading down Abnalls Lane, finally turning right onto Beacon Street ready to form a procession for a ceremonial arrival around the Cathedral at 16:30 and before being received by the Sheriff, together with the Dean of Lichfield, the Rt Revd Jan McFarlane.
Now, it was time to take a breather, and a glass of sherry, or rather a plastic cup, no doubt the rules of health and safety. There are plenty of people waiting at the Cathedral for the arrival and to show their appreciation. The final leg of the journey was to head down Dam Street, Market Street and finally Breadmarket Street, back to the Guildhall where the Town Crier would lead everyone in a hearty three cheers to show their approval to all who took part and made sure that the boundaries were duly ascertained and protected for another year.
If you want to find out more about the Sheriff of Lichfield, click here…
If you want to see the routes they took, click here…
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