A town centre ceremony involving children being tipped upside-down took another twist this year after a long lost boundary stone was unearthed.
The traditional Beating of the Bounds ceremony in High Wycombe had to be changed for the first time in years after a historic boundary stone was discovered during redevelopment work.
The custom involves children being turned upside-down to touch their heads on each of the town’s marker stones. The route usually takes in four stones and stops at the parish church, but this year an extra site was added.
The extra boundary stone was discovered at the corner of Birdcage Walk and has been resurrected with a plaque beside it.
Cllr Chaudhary Ditta, who was the town’s outgoing mayor at the time of the event, said: “It’s absolutely fantastic. I’ve been hearing about this but didn’t get chance to actually come and see how it’s done. We had a nice little walk and explored the history as well.
“It’s another addition to the boundary stones, it’s a good thing to happen, it’s an addition to High Wycombe’s history. It’s lovely to be part of it. We want to keep our history alive, and that’s something we are doing.”
The children taking part in the ceremony were Ayesha and Asfa Masood, Pinca Patrick and Leonardo Xhakola.
The town used to have 18 boundary stones, but many have disappeared over the years. Two are believed to be at The Rye and others are thought to be underneath the Eden shopping centre.