Perambulation of the Marches

For the last two years, the people of Lanark have been unable to take part in the Perambulation of the Marches.
By Julie Currie
Published 9th Jun 2022, 09:18 BST
Updated 9th Jun 2022, 09:19 BST
Lanarkians came out in force to celebrate the first proper Perambulation of the Marches and Shifting of the Burgh Standard since 2019.Lanarkians came out in force to celebrate the first proper Perambulation of the Marches and Shifting of the Burgh Standard since 2019.
Lanarkians came out in force to celebrate the first proper Perambulation of the Marches and Shifting of the Burgh Standard since 2019.

But on Monday night, the pandemic was forgotten as 3000 people took part in the event – much to the delight of the Lanimer Committee.

Publicity convenver Gordon Gray said: “It was lovely to see people celebrating again and a wee bit of normality return to the town.

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“The Lord Cornets led the way in checking eight of the 17 march stones.

The traditional scramble at the Mouse was as popular as ever!The traditional scramble at the Mouse was as popular as ever!
The traditional scramble at the Mouse was as popular as ever!

“One of the stones is in the River Mouse and the scramble there was as popular as ever; there were an awful lot of muddy kids, my daughter being one of them!”

The Lord Cornets will check the remainder of the Boundary Stones this week, before the committee sends a letter to the Queen to inform Her Majesty that the Royal Burgh’s boundaries have been inspected.

The Perambulation as it is now only started around 100 years ago; prior to that, it was the Lord Cornets who checked the stones alone. Now, everyone in the town gets involved!

The tradition of handing out birks was also observed.

Mounted police officers loved taking part in the occasion too!Mounted police officers loved taking part in the occasion too!
Mounted police officers loved taking part in the occasion too!
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Gordon explained: “In 1850, one of the landowners barred the Cornets from passing through his land.

“The townsfolk got fed up with it and went en masse through his land, ripping up some newly planted birk trees.”

Thousands assembled at the Cross to see Ian Douglas return the Burgh Standard, unsullied and unstained, to Lanimer Committee chairman Kenny Lean. It was then passed on to new Lord Cornet Derek McGuinness.

All pictures by kind permission of John Watson.

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