This morning I went to see Lord Mayor Mike Rowley checking the old city wall.

There are parts of the wall still visible across Oxford town centre, if you know where to look, but this little ceremony concerns specifically the long section of wall running through New College.

The city council issued a press release, which explains why we’re all going to look at a wall.

This unique ceremony honours a centuries-old agreement between Oxford and New College, which has been preserved since 30 June 1379.

The tradition began when King Richard II granted the land for the founding of New College on the condition that the college maintains the city’s defensive walls. To ensure that the walls were kept in good repair, a contract was established, and every three years since then, the Lord Mayor of Oxford has inspected them.

The Oxford Morris blog has more details following the 2021 wall-checking expedition. I’m also aware of the ‘perambulation of the City Boundary’ as another local boundary inspection tradition.

Here is the procession all lined up ready to walk out of the town hall.

The man holding the large golden mace here is the Lord Mayor’s sergeant, David Hawkins.

The mace and gown are on display in the town hall. A helpful panel on the display explains that it is the ‘largest civic mace’ in Britain, and also one of the oldest, dating back to around 1659-1660.¹

Mayor Rowley was appointed in May 2024, he’s been a city councillor for Barton and Sandhills since 2010.

I spoke with John Tanner, former city councillor, now present at the ceremony as an Alderman.

Tanner suggested that yes, the whole business of ‘checking the walls’ is an anachronism, but the event is useful. The occasion allows senior members of the council and the university to meet informally and check in on any town/gown business. Well, as informal as you can be when dressed up in all this regalia.

Among the procession were existing and former councillors in different costumes. I didn’t know enough about the outfits (or the people) to tell them apart.

When the procession reached New College, the mace-bearer knocked three times and asked to be let in. Everyone then stood around waiting a while before the door finally opened, all part of the ceremony.

I didn’t follow the procession into New College; time to get the bus to Didcot, where Eileen is waiting for me.