Liverpool Arts Lab began Beating the Bounds of Toxteth Park on the 23rd November 2018. We began this modern ritual in relation to K2’s Toxteth Day of the Dead & The People’s Pyramid project. The ritual continued during lockdown. On 23rd November 2020 we relayed a Golden Acorn around the 10 mile boundary of the original Royal & Ancient Park of Toxteth. In 2021 we traversed the boundary again, this time dressed as the spirits of the animals of the park.

After 5 years Beating of the Bounds at the end of Autumn – a time of decline, decay and death – its time for a change. From 2022 onwards, we will carry out a ritual in Spring time, the season of rebirth and hope. On May 23rd we’ll renew our connection with this body of land at the heart of our city.

This year the hart will be resurrected.

Towards the end of 2021 a rare white stag, also known as a White Hart, was spotted in the streets of Merseyside. After a day of running free, it was cornered in a car park and shot dead by the police who stated it posed a threat to motorists. A dark cloud descended as we contemplated the symbolism of this mythologically-significant creature being killed. According to Arthurian Legend, the appearance of the White Hart “signalled that the time was high for the knights of the kingdom to pursue a quest.” [ref]

We must make amends for the killing of the White Hart. On the 23rd May 2022 we will undertake The Journey from death to back to life.

We will meet at 10:00 at the gates to Toxteth Park’s city of the dead. We will travel from there to the point where the rising brooks running beneath Toxteth Park meet and journey together to the sea. With words, actions and deeds we will reanimate the White Hart along the way.

Anyone and everyone is welcome to join us

We estimate The Journey will take 3 hours.

Further details can be found below.

More information about the area designated at ‘Toxteth’ can be found here

Update 07/06/22
Photos from the journey can be found here