Court Leet and Beating the Bounds
coat of arms Southampton City Council 
civic regalia including the mace in the Mayor's Parlour, Civic Centre
These ancient ceremonies date back at least 800 years and Court Leet was originally held on the Cutthorn Mound on Southampton Common. It is believed that Canute was elected at that place in 1016 as "King of England".
The Court now is held in the Council Chamber of the Civic Centre and takes place on the first Tuesday after Michaelmas [which starts 29th September]. Citizens make presentments and the Court votes on whether to lodge the plea to Southampton City Council.
John Melody, town crier, announces the arrival
of the Sheriff Councillor Liz Mizon at Court Leet
held in the Council Chamber 30th September 2008
In addition the Sheriff in the company of representatives of local school children goes to strategic points on The Common to beat the bounds, the ancient practice of clearing the markers of the town boundary.
Court Leet in session including presenters
from Bassett Green Primary School
The 2008 presentments included a request to amend city by-laws to permit cycling in city parks, to replace a commemorative plaque which had been recently stolen, to remove illegal kerb ramps, to fully remove obsolete and damaged lamp posts and concerns that the decision not to advertise all planning applications could cause difficulties. Other pleas highlighted the poor placement of the new play area at Mayflower Park, the marking of Peace Day each year, the inability to view the Ornamental Lake on The Common fully following the ecology decision to allow bramble, gorse and saplings to grow unchecked nearby. Another presenter highlighted the difficulty in not having focal boards to display community notices. The jurors agreed to present the pleas to the council but rejected a plea that amplifiers should be installed on the Civic Centre clock tower to call the faithful to prayer each day.
For a more detailed account by Viktoria Turner click here
Southampton Common courtesy bexandrob.flickr.com