Bingley Parish Boundary Walk

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Summary: A circuit of Bingley parish, based on the ancient practice of 'beating the bounds', it goes over Rombalds Moor and via Keighley Gate and Barcroft, then towards Denham Edge, Black Hills and Willsden. A parish perambulation, an annual walk/ride to affirm the boundaries of the parish (beating the bounds) was an historic feature of many communities. The Bingley version was evidently a popular affair during the eighteenth century. Bingley historian, Speight mentions a parish grant of ten shillings made in 1704 for the annual occasion and writes of one Thomas Hudson, who preceded his son Dick, as landlord of the Fleece Inn, providing a cart load of ale, cheese and bread. It must have been thirsty work as the old parish of Bingley was surprisingly extensive. The full route would have been about 30 miles but the Bingley locals seem to have taken an abbreviated route with pub stops. According to Eldwick historian, Mirfield, they began at the King's Head Bingley and took in the Fleece (Dick Hudson's), Hawksworth Springs, The Gaping Goose (Intake Gate), and Rombalds Moor. (Source: LDWA)