Also known as Horngarth this is believed to be the oldest surviving custom in Britain. An annual custom, unique in its continuity, it involves the Hutton family who rent farm land at Fylingdales near Whitby. Complaints about unreasonable amounts of wood being sold in 1315 seem to have led to the ritual.
At 9am on the eve of Ascention Day stakes are driven with an ancient mallet into the foreshore below the high tide mark near Boyes Staithe in Whitby harbour. Then osiers are woven among the steaks to form a 'hedge' strong enough to withstand three tides. This done, the baliff of the Court Leet of Fyling blows the horn and shouts 'out upon ye, out upon ye'. The penance 'hedge' is a token, but the belief is that if the hedge is swept away by the tides, the tenancy will be lost.
At 9am on the eve of Ascention Day stakes are driven with an ancient mallet into the foreshore below the high tide mark near Boyes Staithe in Whitby harbour. Then osiers are woven among the steaks to form a 'hedge' strong enough to withstand three tides. This done, the baliff of the Court Leet of Fyling blows the horn and shouts 'out upon ye, out upon ye'. The penance 'hedge' is a token, but the belief is that if the hedge is swept away by the tides, the tenancy will be lost.
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