The original query came in from Carys from Aberystwyth:
"I love going for a walk along the prom on a warm summer's evening but even though I've lived here all my life, I don't know why we always "kick the bar" at the foot of Constitution Hill!
Can anybody tell me how and why this local tradition started?"
Zi from Aberystwyth joined the debate in November 2005:
"This tradition seems to have died out. That said, in desparation to gain that coveted first class degree, I believe myself and some fellow students will soon be venturing out (possibly when the council clear the rest of the beach off the prom) to kick the bar, repeatedly for repeated good luck, with both feet just to cover all possiblilities and eventualities."
Steve Smith now lives in Hersham but was brought up in Aberystwyth:
"I used to live in a house overlooking the bar (long since since demolished), moving from there when I was nearly five. All the locals kicked the bar, perhaps just to mark themselves off from the visitors. I knew an old teacher who was sure that kicking the bar was going on as early as 1910. As for the female students in the Alex attracting the interest of loitering males who killed time by kicking the bar... well the women had their own tradition. During rag week, they would rush out of the Alex in their nighties and run to the top of Constitution Hill in a wild kind of race, yelling and screaming just for the hell of it. My Mam would call me to the window to watch them run. To me it seemed like huge numbers of them all running up the slope past Craig Glais (we lived in the first floor flat). I can still see them now in my recollection. White-dressed 'ghosts' having fun."
Cheryl from London says kicking the bar was a student superstition:
"Kicking the bar was a prerequisite for passing your degree - with both feet at the same time if you wanted a First. Trouble was - there was quite a drop on the other side! Then the students from Swansea Uni cut the bar off and took it away! Jealousy, I think!" (see more on this below...)
Kristina from Aberystwyth adds more to the story about the 'stolen' bar:
"I've lived in Aber my whole life and have been told by my father that Swansea students used to stand outside Alexandra Hall waiting to meet the girls who lived there at the time and stole it to impress these girls. It was put back by Aberystwyth students and the tradition of kicking the bar was started for good luck. If you want to see an article that was wrote about it, you should search the Cambrian News archives - an article was written about two or three years ago giving the writers' full opinion about the tradition."
Links to local newspapers...
Ian Gealy from Bath backs up Ian Pegler's story (below):
"Ian (Pegler) is right, it was Swansea students who stole 'the bar'. I know this because it was my uncle Ceiriog who stole it when he was President of the Union in Swansea back in the 50s."
Ian Pegler from Aberystwyth picks up on Peter Wilson's story about the bar being stolen (see below):
"My dad did his degree here and he used to say that it was students from Swansea who stole the bar, and that Aberystwyth students gave chase to get it back.
Iain from Lisbon puts forward this theory:
"Kicking the bar is all about walking the promonade, but I heard the origin was a little mundane. The Halls at the end used to have a female floor and so the guys would hang around outside, not doing much. Going to try and meet the girls got known as going to 'kick the bar'."
Amelia from Aberystwyth has this message for Laura:
"To Laura 3rd yr undergraduate of Aberystwyth, yes the tradition of kicking the bar is still going strong!! I live in Aber and cannot walk to the bar without kicking it - or the 'bar the other end by the harbour. I was always told that it's for luck and to ensure that you come back to Aberystwyth. All my visitors are hauled there and I insist on a photograph of the actual kicking to record the moment - I have a veritable gallery illustrating this Aber tradition.....and kick the bar almost every day despite the odd looks I get from some baffled promenaders. The best moments are when the 70-80 yr old former students kick it! Magic."
Snowy from Aberystwyth warns don't miss out on the luck:
I have been led to believe the royal connection too but have been told that you miss out on all that good luck if you don't kick the one at the other end as well!!
Laura is a third year undergraduate at Aberystwyth :
"I have recently meet ex-students of Aberystwyth university and for the first time i heard about kicking the bar. I don't know of anybody who does it now. Do you know if it still exists? Im a third year undergraduate but i don't know of anybody still doing it."
Paul from Manchester found David's comments useful:
"Ahhh... now it makes sense! Last time I was there I got made to walk the prom. Wish I'd known about doing the left foot first - distinctly remember it was my right... which might explain my poor run of luck of late!"
David Clues from Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea:
"My great Uncle Danny (Danny Thomas of Pride of the Midlands fame for those of you who remember the trips around the bay) told me it was to kick the evil spirits out of your life, and you had to kick three times with alternate feet starting with the right foot (because everyone knows the left side is the bad side!).
Yes, a health message siding with faith much the same as saying "bless you" when sneezing was thought of as a way of expelling demons from inside oneself."
The Pride of the Midlands gets a mention in Martin's Memories
Harry French from Aberystwyth has a more philosophical take on the query:
"Though digressing slightly, 'kicking the bar' has become part of Aber point to point, a reasonable means of head straightening in times of stress: Vacate pub, walk to the end of the jetty at pub closing time and boox the box, walk the length of the front, kick the bar, and climb consti. Once there, watch the sun come up over aber, a sight not to be missed. This is a good cure for most maladies of the heart."
Nia Griffiths from Aberystwyth puts forward an interesting theory:
"One reason for the tradition that I heard was that it was due to an outbreak of tuberculosis amongst students at the University during the 1920's. Those suffering from the disease were made to walk along the prom and told to kick the bar as proof that they had walked to the end of the prom."
Dave Stacey from Aberystwyth has heard a different version to the Royal connection :
"The version I heard had it linked to the visit the then Prince of Wales and Princess Alexandra paid to Aber at the end of the 19th Century. Apparently he put his boot on the bar to tie his lace.
Later, it caught on among the male students who would kick the bar for luck before meeting the female students who lived in Alexander Hall at the end of the prom."
Peter Wilson from Llandyrnog remembers the bar being stolen :
"I always understood that you kicked the bar for good luck. I can also recall it being stolen by a rival university during their Rag Week. There was great concern when this happened, but it was eventually returned. It just shows you how important the bar was considered to be."
Ivor Longtail from Aberystwyth has a long tale to tell about this local tradition...
"Kicking the bar is a tradition started in 1939 after the great storm due the fact that a small piece of the promenade with a bar attached to it saved a young boy from being swept into the sea. It was at the end underneath Constitution Hill where the current bar now stands. I know this because without it I wouldn't be here. - My Grandfather Evan Moore was that boy."
Gwydion Gruffudd from Aberystwyth has another explanation:
"My father, who came to Aberystwyth for his degree, always told me that the bar must be kicked three times with alternating feet, ensuring that you will come again some time to do the same - an act definitely linked to health and perpituity.
On old maps of Aberystwyth (and even some newer ones) you can see an area marked "Y bar" (The bar) on or near the promenade. It is, however at the other end of the prom to the bar that everyone must kick.
This bar is probably a reference to sand formations in the Rheidol delta in that area -before the harbour was built to its present extent."
Dan Field from Aberystwyth has a different theory about how the tradition started.
"I believe that the term originates from a VIP (Royal?) visit to Aberystwyth where the VIP in question rested their foot on the railings to tie their laces or adjust their footwear in some way. Thus a tradition was born."
Michael Jones from Aberystwyth also thinks there's a Royal connection.
"To "kick the bar" is for luck. There was a member of royalty recuperating after an illness and his constitution was to walk the prom until he was well again"
If you can tell us more, get in touch.
Ask a Local Aberystwyth Index...
your comments
Graham Addison, Milton Keynes
As a student in the 80's we always kicked the bar, my son who is now at Uni in Aber assures me he does the same.
Wed Feb 18 17:03:49 2009
Mel Clapham from Aber/Bont
You should only kick the bar if you walk the full length from south beach and kick the bar down that end too. I was in my car yesterday and saw a walker do it. It's a tradition that's very much still alive. It's good luck and it's so you know you have done the full length. Maybe someone should get in touch with the cambrian news to get the history.
Wed Jan 16 09:21:05 2008
Dan Egan, Pontypridd
I'm a third year student at Aber studying human geog. Before coming to Aber my Grandfather told me that I must kick the bar whenever I am near. His story behind it (which is also one that re-appears whilst studying the history of the prom) is that the then Prince of Wales sat on the bar whilst visiting. However unlike the above comments (kicking the bar for good luck) this version is doing the act as a message to the monarchy as they are/were very unwelcome in the town by local nationalists. Another historic source goes that the town's gallows were once located nearby and so the locals used to kick the bar in order to scare away the evil spirits.
Tue Nov 6 14:37:08 2007
Garin Fitter, Aberystwyth
I always kick the bar when I go there but it some times gives me bad luck.
Thu Jul 12 10:06:34 2007
Elfyn Henderson, Western Australia
I'm from Aber and I always kicked the bar when I walked the Prom, and I have been kicking bars wherever I've been since. I didn't realise that it was a uniquely Aberystwyth tradition - no wonder people were giving me weird looks!
Wed Jun 13 09:40:35 2007
Charlene Roberts, Aberystwyth
When I was kid my mum and dad used to come to Aberystwyth and it was a lovely day out for us. At that time my mother was pregnant with my sister and she loved the sea air. Me and dad sit on beach for hours and get sun tanned. I was only 7 yrs old. Even now I'm grown up I still remember the same spot where I sunbathed.
Wed May 23 16:21:02 2007
Graham Davies, Llanelli
When I was a student in the late 70's I was told that kicking the bar would mean you would return there. It has always worked so far! I visited again after many years last week and introduced my wife to the tradition. I wonder when the next visit will be?
Wed Jan 31 09:29:11 2007
Lil from Aberystwyth
Kicking the bar is very much a continuing tradition - I must have left nearly an inch of boot leather on that bar over the years - just check out the paint work on that bar - it's got flaking patches and holes in it, all from being kicked constantly.
I was introduced to it in my first year 1998 by a friend - who told me about the royal connection and that it was supposed to ensure that your feet always found their way back to Aber... well I'm still here... haven't seen him for nearly 4 years though...
Fri Sep 1 13:57:55 2006
Pat Browne - Brisbane
I lived and worked in Aberystwyth for a while from 1979 to 1981. I was told I should kick the bar at the end so whenever I walked along the prom I kicked the bar for good luck. Just recently my sister visited Brisbane and we walked along Redcliffe Pier when we reached the end I told her she should kick the bar for good luck. Maybe another tradition has started.
Mon Jun 12 10:24:44 2006
Sally, Aberystwyth
I still kick the bar. I will kick the bar by Constitution Hill then walk to the very end of South Beach and kick the bar there. It's a nice walk and I am also superstitious so it is good luck too. I know that the juggling society in Aberystwyth have an annual kick of the bar. Maybe they should organise some sort of walk that everyone can get involved in to kick the bar?
Mon May 22 13:38:06 2006
Caroline Jones (Aberystwyth)
My husband and I have been kicking the bar for nearly 60 years, most locals still do but we notice fewer students doing the same, it is reassuring to read that they do. It really does not matter where it originated, or why we do it, just so long as the tradition is kept alive.
Thu Apr 13 10:42:31 2006
Dave of Melksham
I was told by my parents that you should only kick the bar after walking the full length of the Prom, I suppose as a sort of sigh of relief. I have heard many reasons since but certainly as kids in the 40s and 50s we all did it.
Fri Mar 24 22:43:16 2006
Gerald Yndell, St Neots
I was born and bred in aber but moved away. I don't half miss it. I am sure I will come home one day. I brought my wife and children to Aber to see my home town, and i told my wife that whatever we do, we must go down to the prom to kick the bar. It's lucky, it's tradition.
Mon Feb 13 00:10:29 2006
Rhodri from S.Wales
'Kicking the bar' is still talked about in Aber, I'm guessing the bar that is to be kicked is the one that is now loose and bent(too much kicking?). That's the one I always kick after coming down Consti anyway :-)
Wed Dec 28 17:15:33 2005
Joy Edwards, Wolverhampton (formerly Aberystwyth)
I lived in Aberystwyth for twenty years and was told by a local that you must walk the Prom and kick the Bar, this not only ensures good luck but also that you'll return to Aber someday.
Mon Dec 12 13:43:08 2005
Add your comments to this page here:
No walk along Aberystwyth promenade is complete without "kicking the bar" - or the railings - at the foot of Constitution Hill... but why do we do it? Our contributors have been sending in a range of reasons.
