HUNDREDS of walkers are expected to take part in a septennial tradition of marking the route of the ancient boundary of Richmond.

The Richmond Boundary Walk, on Wednesday, August 29, is believed to date back to 1575 and the charter of Queen Elizabeth I, and was originally intended to identify and proclaim the boundary of the township.

Almost 1,000 people have participated in recent walks, covering 14 miles over both public and private land.

One woman is celebrating her 10th anniversary of completing the boundary walk after first taking part in 1955 ages 10.

Ann Luxmoore grew up in Richmond but has worked around the world as a nurse and lived elsewhere in the UK – but still managed to attend all the walks since her first.

She said: “My mother did it in 1948 so as a family we did it together in 1955.

“I remember it being a fun occasion. There were races along the way for children and adults, and pies at various points. It used to be held during term time so I had missed a day of school so I could take part.

“As I got older, I always happened to be in the country when the walk was on so this year will be my 10th – we’ll see if I’m able to do the next one. I’d be interested to see if anyone else has done as many as me, I know a George Brown completed his 11th walk in 1976.”

Mrs Luxmoore, 73, is a keen walker and member of the Swaledale Outdoor Club and said she would be taking part in the walk with others from the club.

The walks take place every seven years, and are traditionally led by a pinder, or pioneer, who carried an axe to clear the route for the crowd.

Robert Chandler, who died in 2017, had led the previous four boundary walks and his father had led five previous to him.

Clerk to Richmond Town Council, Heather Lawler, said the council hoped to recuit a new pinder who would be willing to lead the walk for a number of years.

She said: “It would be good to find someone young who wants to take the responsibility to be involved for three or four walks.

The procession will leave Richmond Town Hall at 8.30am and will head to The Green for the first of 18 proclamations given by the bellman.

No dogs are permitted and participants are advised to wear suitable clothing.