Jim Hirst Squire Chapel-en-le-Frith MM receives staff of office from Ivor Allsop Ledbury 1980

A list of Morris Ring Member and Associate Side formation dates, and the dates when Members joined the Morris Ring, was obtained from web sites. The 'old guys' are listed as 'Traditional', please send any further details, comments or corrections to the webeditor [at] themorrisring.org (subject: Query%20about%20the%20Morris%20Ring%20website%20-%20side%20histories) (WebEditor). Thanks - there is always room for improvement! It would be interesting to include details of sides who have now expired, handed in their staves, joined the great dancer in the sky.... etc., etc!  So this is a plea for more information, I expect that much can be found in the Morris Ring Log books, but as with past Morris Ring meetings it would be interesting to draw the information together into this web page. And if you're not happy about your side's entry, see your bagman. They are now able to update this directly!

Colin Andrews, our New Dance Collator also edits and collates data for the Morris Dance Data Base sponsored by ourselves and the Morris Federation. He has created a Historic Teams Page listing teams and dance locations known to have existed before 1900 drawn from a variety of sources.

For the wider Morris Community - all over the planet - check your entry on the Morris Histories page on Google - this is a spreadsheet, so contains more information about individual sides (if they provide it). 

 

The "Notes Link" given below, where available, either links directly to a page describing a side history, or to the side website, from which the history can be read.

Title Side formed Joined Morris Ring Notes & link to side history page if available
1st Sedgley Morris 1979 1983 We started in 1979 and remained as 1st Sedgley Morris Men until January 2024 when, after a narrow vote, we decided to become a mixed group - it was either that or fold! Since our inception there have been nearly 100 members and our current active membership is 20 active dancers and 4 musicians. We have a close affiliation with the 1st Sedgley Scout Group, we share their facilities, support their functions and help in whatever way we can. Link
Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers Traditional 1937 Records back to 1560. The dancing is related to the custom of election of the Mayor of Ock Street and the Ock Street Horns which are always present when we dance and which date from 1700. For more details of our history, follow the History menu on our website http://atmd.org.uk/ . Link
Adderbury Village Morris Men Traditional 18th Century. Revival in 1974. Link
Adelaide Morris Men
Adlington Morris Men [incl. Adlington Mummers] 1964 1976 Adlington Morris Men joined the Morris Ring at the 158th Ring Meeting, Chipperfield 9th to 11th July 1976.
Aldbury Morris Men 1969 1999 We started dancing in 1969, meeting in an unheated barn at the rear of the Greyhound Pub in Aldbury, Hertfordshire. After the floorboards threatened to give way and frostbite became severe we moved to warmer surroundings. We now practice every Thursday evening during the winter months in the Aldbury Memorial Hall. Link
Alvechurch Morris 1989 Formed for the Grande Schoole Fete,they were invited to dance at two other venues in the village in the next seven days. So they began. Link
Anker Morris Men 1975 1980 Formed by a group of folk enthusiasts in Nuneaton in 1975 and named after the River Anker which runs through Nuneaton, "anker" being an ancient word meaning "meander" - possibly apt for Morris men! Link
Anstey Morris Men 1983 From Anstey near Leicester. Proudly sponsored by Everards of Leicestershire, a local family brewery.
Ashdown Forest Morris Men 1972 1977 AFMM danced in as members of the Ring in 1977, at the Colchester Ring Meeting of that year.
Banchory-Ternan Morris Men 1975 The only Morris Ring side in Scotland!  Link(link is external) Link
Barnsley Longsword Team 1968 1972 Ivor Allsop wrote: "Barnsley joined the Ring in 1972 taking their staff at the Huddersfield Ring Meeting from Mr. Bert Cleaver."
Bathampton Morris Men 1934 1968 Bathampton Morris Men were formed in 1934. In the early 1930's Mrs. Charlotte Oakey moved to Bathampton to become become head teacher of the village school. She included Morris Dancing in the activities of the school's Scout group and in 1934 "Mrs. Oakey's Boys" side was born. This side later grew into the "Bathampton Morris Men" and danced into the MR in 1968. Link
Bedford Morris Men Traditional 1936 Formed in 1932, in part from a number of ex pupils of Clapham Road [now Livingstone] School, who wanted to carry on with the Morris Dancing that they had been taught at school. In 1932 the side was known as "Old Mole". This was changed to "Bedford Morris Men" two years later. They were joined by other men, who had learned their dancing either with the English Folk Dance Society or with the Rover Scouts. Link
Belchamp Morris 1976 1989 Take their name from the village of Belchamp St Paul, North Essex, where they still practice and entertain at the village fete. Originally formed to dance Morris in the Cotswold style, in 1990 they converted to the dances and style of the Welsh Border Counties, Link
Benfieldside Morris & Sword Dancers
Big Jigs Started in 2012 as an informal group practising Cotswold jigs, but soon the membership wanted to dance out. Now they dance out with the local morris sides and at a couple of festivals every year
Blackheath Morris Men 1970
Blackmore Morris 1970 Started formally in January 1970 when a group of members of Blackmore Folk Club (not far from Brentwood in Essex) got together to learn Cotswold Morris under the guidance of an experienced Morris dancer, Roy Tomlin. Link
Bourne River Morris 1967 1975 Miss Mayne was converted to folk dancing by Cecil Sharp and founded a Morris side at Chideock, whose hats were presented to the newly formed Bourne River Morris Men. After a dress rehearsal in November 1967 at Bournemouth College, they gave their first public performance at Miss Mayne's birthday ceilidh in 1968. Danced in at the 151st meeting - Thaxted, 31st May 1975 Link
Bovey Tracey Mummers
Bristol Morris Men 1951 1952 Link
Broadwood Morris Men 1972
Buckland Shag Morris 2021 2021
Bury Pace-Eggers 1972 Joined at the Sutton Coldfield Ring meeting in 1972 and, although it lapsed for a while, membership was revived in 2013. Recorded by Charlotte Burne in C19th and at Bury Petty Sessions in 1853/54.
Cam Valley Morris Men 1981 1992 Formed in 1981 by dancers who had already gained experience with other dance sides. Their aim was to dance Cotswold Morris in its traditional form Link
Cambridge Morris Men [aka The Travelling Morrice] 1924 1934 Founder member of the Ring Link
Campden Morris Dancers Traditional 2002 1772 may be the earliest reference to this Gloucestershire team, one of only four traditional Cotswold sides that exist today who have an unbroken history. The Campden side dances a unique tradition that can be found no where else and the dances and steps form part of a living tradition which is passed on from one generation to the next. No other sides dance Campden and this is something which is respected throughout the morris community. Previously known as The Chipping Campden Morris Men. (but never Camden ! ) Link
Castleford Sword Dancers 1969 1979 The team was formed 5th November 1969 admitted to the Morris Ring in 1979 and danced in at the Giffard Ring Meeting July 1979. Barry Evans - Squire
Chalice Morris Men 1972 1980 Formed in Highbridge, Somerset in 1972 and takes its name from the Chalice Well at Glastonbury Link
Chameleonic 1985 Dancers have performed throughout the world and are chosen for their wide range of experience. Recent performances have been in Lithuania, Estonia, USA, Ireland, Romania, Israel, Turkey, Spain, France, Ireland, Estonia (Baltica 2001), Lithuania, Latvia (Baltica 2003), Italy and Ukraine
Chanctonbury Ring Morris 1953 1954 CRMM began as an offshoot of the Shorham FDC which was founded in 1949. Some members were introduced to morris and sword in 1951, they dressed in morris kit for the Festival of Britain parade through Shoreham. Did not dance, then energised to dance morris by a trip to Bampton in 1952, and officially formed in 1953. Read on!. Link
Chapel-en-le-Frith Morris 1975 A letter to the Buxton Advertiser prompted an initial meeting at the Kings Arms pub. They not only found they had an experienced morris dancer living in Chapel-en-le-Frith but also an accordionist as well. They were able to start practicing and by December, were ready for their first public performance at Sandbach Folk Dance Club’s Christmas ceilidh. Link
Chester City Morris Men
Chewit Well Mummers
Claro Longsword 1979 Based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, mainly perform Longsword though their origins include Cotswold Link
Colchester Morris 1926 1935 The Colchester Club was founded in 1926, disbanded during World War II and re-established in 1953, remaining active ever since. In 2023 it dropped it's men only status and became open to all. Link
Coventry Morris 1931 1935 Martin Trewinnard writes: "Known to be dancing into the early 1940s (Pat Shaw came across from Birmingham to dance with the team) but not active post-war until 1950, certainly dancing again in 1951 (Festival of Britain event poster at Berkswell); Staff of office lost at some time in the 1940s, we have a home made replacement. Historically, there is a reference to "morris dancers from the city of Coventry" in the diary of Queen Elizabeth I's visit to Kenilworth Castle 1577 and to a "sweep's morris" in an account of an 18th century Godiva Procession which we assume to be some sort of morris dance but with dancers blacked up (but even our oldest member is not old enough to remember either event!)" Link
Coventry Mummers 1966 1970 A side of some 15 men formed in 1966 to promote the performance, research, study and public awareness of Mummers Plays or 'English Ritual Drama'. Although not the oldest team to revive Mumming, it is believed that they were the first stand-alone side to specialise exclusively in Mumming, enjoying a stable membership and regular weekly meetings throughout the year.
Crendon Morris Traditional Formed in 1967 and are based in Long Crendon, Bucks As of 2nd May 2023 the side no longer exists. Due to age, infirmity, lack of new dancers and the closure of our headquarters pub we have regretfully decided to call it a day.
Darlington Mummers 1965 Claim to be the Oldest Revivalist Mummers Team in the country Link
Dartington Morris 1968 1973 In 1973 the current side was admitted to membership of the Morris Ring, collecting their staff at the Ludlow Morris Ring Meeting in September 1978. In 2021 the side changed from being a male-only dance side to welcoming dancers and musicians of any gender. Link
Datchet Border Morris 1961 1966 Datchet formed in 1961, decided to change from Cotswold Morris to Border style dancing in 1991. Link
Devil's Dyke Morris Men 1975 2012 The side began as the Staploe Hundred Morris Men in 1975. Various changes around 1980-81 turned Staploe into the Devil's Dyke Morris Men Link
Dolphin Morris Men 1968 1971 Andy Padmore's very full archive of the first 30 years of Dolphin's existence can be found at https://wilwalker.wixsite.com/archive​ and the next 10 years may be added at some point. Link
Durham Rams Sword and Morris Men 1960
Earlsdon Morris 1971 1977 Formed in 1971, with their base in the village of Earlsdon, in Coventry Link
East Suffolk Morris Men 1958 1966 Suffolk MM are pictured in 1930s. Des Herring had moved from the West Country to Suffolk and joined the Suffolk Men but preferred to start a fresh Side in 1958 - the East Suffolk Morris Men (ESMM).By 1965 the remaining Suffolk Men had migrated to join ESMM. Link
East Surrey Morris Men 1926 1934 Founder member of the Ring Link
Etcetera Morris Men 1975 1981 Matt Stevens writes: "Etcetera Morris Men ... a group of Enfield Teachers. They met at the Enfield Teacher's Centre - and thus E.T.C. (or Etcetera) Morris Men was formed. History: Link
Ewell St Mary's Morris Men 1979 1986 Link
Exeter Morris 1951
Faithful City Morris Men 1967 1970 Faithful City Morris Men (FCMM) was founded in 1967. We dance both Cotswold & Border Morris and also have a Rapper Side. We take our name from Worcester City which has the motto "Civitas fidelis in bello et pacem" (the Faithful City in war & peace). FCMM danced into the Morris Ring at Exeter ARM (No. 123) held 10 - 12 July 1970. Link
First Class Stamp 2019 Side formed in 1980s - exact date lost in the mists of time. Dance in Buck and Wing appalachian style. Dances written by members or collected from other appalachian teams. Perform at local pubs during the summer and large festivals - Chippenham most years, invited side at Sidmouth Summer 2022.
Flowers of Ilmington 2017 2019
Forest of Dean Morris Men 1968 1n 1968, Dave Blick was performing at the Forest of Dean Folk Club, based at The White Hart, Coleford. Dave had moved from Northampton, where he had danced with the Northampton Morris Men, to take up an appointment as Lecturer of mechanical engineering at the Forest of Dean College of Further Education. Dave, an eternal optimist, asked the folk club audience if “anyone was interested in forming a morris dance side in the Forest. Six men stepped forward and the Forest of Dean Morris Men was born*. David Blick was their first Squire. Morris dancing was once again revived in the Forest. The newly formed Forest side practiced throughout the winter and performed out for the first time on Easter Bank Holiday Monday 1969. Link
Foresters Morris & Sword Dancing Club 1956
Gloucestershire Morris 1930 1938 Link
Golden Star Morris 1979 2019 A mixed Cotswold Morris side based in Norwich, Norfolk, UK.
Good Easter Molly Gang
Grand Union Morris 1976 21/10/2016 Falling numbers & rising infirmity mean it's become impossible to continue and our efforts at recruitment have been fruitless. The website will be maintained for the foreseeable future, including all the scrapbooks on http://grandunionmorris.org/sbdisp.html Link
Great Yorkshire Morris
Green Mans Morris
Green Oak Morris Men Traditional 1977 Link
Greensleeves Morris Men 1926 1934 Founder member of the Ring. See GMM History pages on their web site. Link
Greenwich Morris Men Blackheath Morris Men formed towards the end of the 1960s, and have performed all over the country, including as support to Hawkwind in the 1970s, and with Eric Idle at the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Games
Grimsby Morris 1969
Handsworth Traditional Sword Dancers Traditional Link
Harry Taylor's Morris 1916 2017 London based with members from accross the UK, Taylor’s Morris were formed from a series of workshops held in early 2016 and in their first year entered both solo and double jigs at Sidmouth winning best newcomer and 2nd place in the double jig competition. They danced in at the 2017 London Ring Meeting. Link
Harthill Morris 1976 1981 In 1975 a group of young men in the village of Harthill, the most southerly village in Yorkshire, came together to form part of the entertainment for a village event. The group learned the basics of Morris dancing and, following a positive reception to their performance, went on to form Harthill Morris in 1976. The side went from strength to strength and were proud to be accepted for membership into The Morris Ring, Harthill were accepted into the MR at the Kennet Ring Meeting in 1981 receiving their membership staff from Fr Kenneth Loveless. Link
Hartley Morris Men 1952 1955 Stansted Morris, Hartley's predecessors were formed in 1934 and joined the Ring at CSH on March 13th 1937. They ceased in 1939. The Hartley Morris Men were formed in 1952 and joined the ring in 1955. They have been performing around Kent and especially West Kent since then. In 2012 they were asked to represent England at the Commonwealth Carnival of Music and Dance held in the Houses of Parliament as part of the late Queen's Jubilee celebrations. Link
Headington Quarry Morris Dancers Traditional History from 1700s
Helier Morris 1975 1990 The first public performance took place in the summer of 1975, with a few dances from the Cotswold traditions. By Christmas of the same year a Mummers Play had been added and side has counted Longsword and Welsh Border style dancing amongst its repertoire. Helier have been responsible for spawning a separate ceilidh band and were admitted to the Morris Ring in 1990. They remain the only men’s Morris side in the Channel Islands and qualify as the most southerly team in the British Isles. Now firmly established as part of island life, they perform regularly between May and September, supporting local events and festivals. In addition, they celebrate May Day with a 12 hour, 12 Parish marathon tour, dance on Boxing Day and go wassailing in early January. They have represented the island in England, France and the other Channel Isles. Link
Helmondse Morrisdansers 1935 1976 HMM were started just a year after the Morris Ring was formed. Regular practices ceased in 2022. Remaining members attend Morris events in England approximately every two years and organise occasional weekends of dance in Helmond. Link
Herga Mummers 1908
Het Utrecht Morris Team 1979 1991
Hinckley Bullockers 1986 1986 Revival of old Leicestershire Custom of plough monday bullocking. A plough is dragged round several local villages - Sharnford, Sapcote, Stoney Stanton and dances performed. Most of the molly style dances were written by founder Tony Ashley. Dancers raddle their faces and dress in suits with ribbons and sashes.
Horwich Prize Medal Morris 2020 2020 Reformed in 1976. Left to join the Morris Federation 2014
Icknield Way Morris Men 1950 1974
Jockey Morris 1949
Kemp's Men of Norwich 1956
Kennet Morris 1957 1962 Danced in at the Cheltenham Ring Meeting in 1962. Kennet's predecessors, Wargrave Morris, were inaugural members of the Morris Ring in 1934 before the 2nd WW intervened. Several of the Wargrave men went on to found Kennet in 1957. Link
King John's Morris Men 1975 1981 We were formed in 1975 by dancers and musicians in Southampton, some of whom had previously been members of Red Stags Morris, then a side within the Students' Union of the University in Southampton. We were elected to The Morris Ring in 1981 and danced in at the 196th meeting hosted by Wessex Morris Men in 1982. The side has danced at many events, including the Sidmouth, Whitby, Towersey and New Forest folk festivals, as well as in France, Belgium and the Netherlands and represented the Morris Ring at the Third Babylon International Folklore Festival in Iraq in September 1989, some months before the start of the first Gulf War ... we had return tickets!
Kingston Spring Grove Morris 1978
Kinnerton Morris 1976 Link
Knightlow Morris Men
Lassington Oak Morris Men 1977
Leicester Morris 1953
Leominster Morris 1983 Side at beginning of 20th C
Letchworth Morris 1922 Founder member of Ring
Leyland Morris Dancers 1966 Team at Leyland for over 100 years (1889 emblem)
Lichfield Morris Men [Inc. Armitage Mummers] Earliest record 1747
Lincoln & Micklebarrow Morris Men 2001 We are a side formed early this century from the remnants of Lincoln Morris Men of Lincoln, surprisingly, and Micklebarrow Morris Men who were based in Southwell, Nottinghamshire.
London Pride Morris 1930 1937
Long Man Morris 1978 1984 Associate side from 1980
Lord Conyers Morris Men 1976
Lyme Morris 2009 2003 Originally Uplyme Morris, formed in 1983. Dispanded in 1993. Uplyme Morris reformed 2007. Changed name to Lyme Morris 2019. Became a mixed side in 2022. Dances are Cotswold, Border and our own dances or versions of other styles dances.
Malvern Swordsmen
Manchester Morris 1930 1936 History Link
Martlet Sword & Morris Men 1953 1956 On Wednesday 27th March, the remaining active members of the Martlets gathered at our usual practice venue, Southbourne Social Club for our final evening together before dissolution. Eight dancers and three musicians came together for our final show in front of friends and family. Performing 'Old Molly Oxford' and the traditional Morris farewell dance, 'Bonny Green Garter', the Martlet Sword and Morris Men finally came to the end after 70 years of dancing. Amongst the dancing men, Peter North, 92, is the sole remaining founder member of the Martlets, who was determined to be in at the finish. A desire he achieved admirably. Other men involved were, Dancers: Squire Gerry Tilling, Foreman Jim Gaffney, Jonathan King, Tim Green, Robin Frost, John Greenfield, Ben Metcalfe. Musicians: Bagman David Asher (penny whistle), Steve Matcham (recorder), Keith Gamble (accordion). Also in attendance were Keith Fancy and David Green. Unable to attend were Peter Davey and Joe Griffin.
Mayflower Morris Men 1973 1977 The Mayflower Morris Men were formed in 1973, although Morris dancers in Billericay are first mentioned in a church warden’s accounts during the 1550s. The side's name and Puritan colours are a link with the Pilgrim Fathers, five of whom, including Christopher Martin, Governor of The Mayflower, came from the town. History Link
Men of Sweyn's Ey Morris & Sword Dancers
Men of Wight
Mendip Morris 1956
Mersey Morris 1960
Monkseaton Morris Dancers
Morris 18 - 30 2002
Mossley Morris Men 1981 Tradition dates back to the early 19thC
Moulton Morris Men Remnants of traditional dance in local pubs (a version of Bacca Pipes), and a village Mummers side existed in Moulton up to the time of the First World War and older villagers helped with information on these.
North British Sword Dancers 1992 2012 Colin Messer writes: "I worked in Glasgow in 1991 and danced with Clydeside Rapper and Step when they visited Saddleworth Rushcart. The following year - 1992 - we returned to Saddleworth to discover that those who turned up were all ex-Clydeside, so we created North British."
North Curry Mummers
North Wood 1975 1984
Northampton Morris Dancers 1949 1952
Norwich Kitwitches 2022 2022
Oakworth Village Morris Men 1981 1984
One Day Wonders Travelling Morris 2019 The link is to the team records of the One Day Wonders Travelling Morris, which wound up in 2017 after 30 Annual Tours.The brainchild of Chris Barber, at that time Fool for Forest of Dean MM, the team grew out of his frustration at the tendency for normal Morris outings to suffer from “one more man” syndrome, where an incomplete set waited to dance while men got a beer in or had an ice-cream. After his experience at the Fools and Animals Weekend run by Wath-upon-Dearne MM in 1987, where he found men were practically elbowing each other to get into the set, Chris had the idea of starting a once-a-year team of 8 men: 7 dancers keen to dance, with a musician. Having canvassed likely recruits from among experienced Morris men of his acquaintance, he got the 8 men, and with Tony Ashley of Anker MM the first Tour was planned for May 1988. Bob Collier of Forest of Dean sketched out the kit, and David Wintle, then also of Forest of Dean, suggested that the team should dance a single tradition on Tour, rather than the more common miscellany. The first Tour was based at the “Sun Inn” at Clun, and this venue, plus the “One Day” nature of the team, led to the adoption of the logo of a “Smiling Sun”. The name “One Day Wonders” was a tongue-in-cheek echo of Will Kemp’s famous exploit, and “Travelling” incorporated because that was what the team did, going to a different location each year. The men would meet on a Friday evening and practice the dances, Tour on the Saturday, hold an AGM on Sunday morning, and reconvene 12 months later. The roles of Squire and Foreman would rotate through the membership, with the Squire responsible for the Tour organisation, and the Foreman for the dancing. The Squire could choose where the Tour went, and the dance tradition was to be decided by the Foreman, taught on the Friday evening, and danced during the Tour. The tradition would not be publicised in advance to the team, except for the music being given to the musician. It was intended to avoid repetition of any tradition, though in the 30 years of the team’s existence this proved impossible to sustain, as not all nominated Foremen felt able to research and teach something entirely different. . In fact 24 distinct traditions were performed, with 5 having repeats. Longborough, Adderbury, Wheatley, Ilmington, Withington, Sherborne, Bledington, Bessels Leigh, Brackley, Bidford, Headington, Bampton, Ducklington, Lower Swell, Kirtlington, Derby, Eynsham, Snowshill, and Duns Tew were performed once, and with repeats: Badby (2), Bucknell (2), Stanton Harcourt (2), Fieldtown (3), Oddington (2). The repeat of Oddington was a deliberate team decision, as it was danced on the first Tour, and hence chosen for the last, with the same Foreman, though the actual dances and style differed markedly. Likewise, because the Foreman changed each year, the repeats never duplicated the previous versions. The Log shows details of the dances performed, with locations, apart from the earliest years and one unexplained gap in 1992. Details of the places and circumstances of performance came to fill out the Log after the first few years, and in some cases the Minutes of the AGM add information. The personnel and their respective Morris affiliations are also noted. In 2015 the team made a deliberate decision to wind it up with the 30 th Tour in 2017, as the hoped for recruitment of younger dancers to continue it had failed to happen, and it was felt it was best to bow out while the current membership could still make a reasonable fist of the dancing. There was a hope that others might take up the idea of the team, and in 2018 some younger men with connections to team members past and present expressed an interest in reviving it. They assembled a cohort of other young dancers, the original kit which had been held in store for such an eventuality was handed over, and in 2019 the Revived One Day Wonders held their first Tour, in the Forest of Dean. The four members who had attended all 30 tours of the original team, Tony Ashley, Joe Oldaker, Martyn Thomas and David Wintle, and the originator, Chris Barber, turned up in support. At the team dinner in the evening Tony Ashley presented the new team with the loving cup originally given to the One Day Wonders by the late Geoff Thompson on the “Ancient Monuments” Tour in 1998. At the time of writing this note (September 2024) the revived team continues. An account of the final Tour by Tony Foard, Editor of the Morris Ring Circular,appeared in that publication in 2017, and a short history of the ODW by Joe Oldaker was published in the Circular Issue 74, Spring 2018. Parts of the above note duplicate that history. Link
Original Welsh Border Morris & Cow Pat Morris
Packington Morris Men 1975 1980
Perth Morris Men 1973
Peterborough Morris 1979 Peterborough Morris perform traditional English dances in the Cotswold style. We appear at pubs, festivals and events in the local area and have been a regular fixture at the Straw Bear Festival since 1981. We are a friendly side and new men are always welcome. Link
Phoenix Morris 1952
Pinewoods Morris Men 1964 1965
Plymouth Morris 1970 1975
Plymouth Reunion Morris Men
Ravensbourne Morris Men 1947 1947 The club made its first public appearance on 10th March 1947 when it provided illustrations to a talk given by Douglas Kennedy at Beckenham and Penge County School. On 20th March, the club attended the first post-war Ring Meeting at Cecil Sharp House and was admitted to membership and received its staff of office, which is that formerly held by the Squire of Balgowan. Because of this, Ravensbourne can be considered to be a continuation of the Balgowan club. http://www.ravensbourne.org/history(link is external) Link
Redcar Sword Dancers 1967 1977
Redding Moreys
Richmond on Swale Morris Men 1973
Ripley Morris 1924 stopped in 50's, then restarted 1981
Rose & Castle Morris
Royal Preston Morris Dancers Merger of Preston Royal Morris Dancers and Royal Lancashire Morris Dancers in 2000
Rumford Morris Men
Rutland Morris 1974 1978 Formed in 1974 as Rutland Morris Men the side primarily dance Cotswold Morris, with some Border in the winter months. The sides performs in and around Rutland all year round and enjoy going further afield to join other sides or just have a group holiday. As the side approached its 50th birthday, the name was changed to Rutland Morris and now welcomes all dancers and musicians to join, and now has 7 active women members. Link
Saddleworth Morris Men 1974
Saddleworth Women's Morris & Clog 2023 2023
Saint Bees Mummers
Shakespeare Morris 1959 1965
Silkeborg Morris Men 1976
Silurian Border Morris Men 1969
Southport Swords 1968
Spen Valley Longsword Dancers 1974
St Albans Morris Traditional 1934 Dr R Kenworthy Schofield arrived in St Albans from Cambridge, to work at the Rothamsted Research Station. As he said, it was his custom to be actively associated with a morris club, and he would gladly act as leader, teacher and musician “for the love of the thing”. Some ten men, including Donald Cassels and Humphrey Moreton, eagerly accepted his offer, and St Albans Morris Men was founded in early 1930. The club practised in the Abbey Institute, then moved to the Market Hall. The first recorded show was at the Hertfordshire Branch (of the EFDSS) Festival at Hatfield House, on 5th July 1930. The dances were Winster Processional and Reel, Askham Richard sword, Rigs o’ Marlow, Blue Eyed Stranger and Fool’s Jig. St Albans joined The Morris Ring at the Inaugural Meeting at Cecil Sharp House, on 20th October 1934, dancing Constant Billy (Adderbury) as our first “show” dance. Kenworthy Schofield was elected Squire of the Ring in February 1936, and took up his duties at the Grasmere Ring Meeting that September. Most pre-1939 morris took the form of displays at one-off events, but in July and August 1939, the club began the tradition of village tours (on Wednesday nights) which survive as our Monday night programme, and it was on 19th July that Miss I M Du Cane (“Mollie”) first played for the Club. Throughout the War, practice was irregular, but the club was able to put on a show whenever it was requested. Pictures show men wearing bells and baldricks over their everyday shirts and trousers. May 19th, 1948 saw St Albans appear live on BBC Television’s “Picture Page”, thanks to a piece of astute promotion by Humphrey Moreton, then the Bagman. He had invited the BBC to televise a village tour show, but Outside Broadcast equipment was primitive and inflexible, so the club went to Alexandra Palace instead. Later that summer, the Club played a prominent part in the St Albans Millenary Pageant, wearing some distinctly dodgy “Elizabethan” costumes, with hats! Kenworthy in particular looked very fetching in striped britches and plumed billycock. In 1949, St Albans Morris Men was the first club to organise a “modern” Ring Meeting, based on our home ground – until then, clubs had come together in “neutral” areas of interest. The invitation to visiting Men suggested that they might like to bring their bicycles for a tour. The format of a Ring Meeting weekend is understood to have been devised by Humphrey Moreton. 2016 saw the most significant change in its history when St Albans Morris became a mixed side, welcoming women members for the first time and revitalising the side for the 21st century. Link
St Nicholas-at-Wade with Sarre Hoodeners
Stafford Morris 1957 1961 Records of other Stafford sides before present SMM
Stourvale Mummers
Sweyn's Ey 1966 1978 Sweyn's Ey started in 1966, and has been dancing every year since then. We were known as The Mighty Men of Madoc for the first couple of years before changing to The Men of Sweyn's Ey in 1968, then Sweyn's Ey when we became a mixed side in 1029. We were admitted to the Ring at the Ludlow meeting in 1978. We now regularly turn out with 12 dancers and 3 musicians, and have a 'summer' performance program which often stretches from January to December. We mainly dance morris these days, with a fairly wide repertoire of traditions which cycle in and out of our summer set list each year. We have ambitions to get our rapper team back to performance standard. Link
Taunton Deane Morris Men 1973 1976
Thames Valley Morris Men 1952 1955 Link
Thameside Mummers 1971
Thaxted Morris Men 1911 1934 Founder member of Ring
The (Insert Name Here) Mummers
The Bald of Guv'nors 2023 2024
The Brackley Morris Dancers Traditional Records back to 1623, 400 years of history
The Illustrious Order of Fools & Beasts 1979 1979 Link
The Traditional Ilmington Morris Dancers Traditional 2002 In 1897, the village saw another revival inspired by Joseph Johnson and Sam Bennett, for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Sam had learned the tunes from the now old pipe and tabor player Tom, who died in 1891, and pipe player Tom Foster. Sam also had close associations with the Bampton fiddler Bertie Clarke, and used to play for the Bampton men occasionally – he became well known as a morris dancer and musician throughout the country. On an occasion when Sam had fallen from a pear tree and broken his arm, Harry Sturch, from Shipston-on-Stour, played fiddle. Harry having learned his playing from his grandfather Henry Sturch went on to play again for the Ilmington men in 1974 when a significant interest was again re-kindled by a number of local men including Chris Green, Stan Jones and Paul Bryan (born an Ilmington man). Harry or ‘Fid’ as he was known was able to give invaluable help to again raise the side to full strength- which has continued to flourish to the present day. Link
The Traditional Ilmington Morris Men
Thelwall Morris 1973 1976 See A Long History of Thelwall Morris Men on the website: Link
Towersey Horseshoes Morris 1967 1973 Andy Harvey writes: "Our scrapbook shows Towersey Morris Men being presented with their Ring Staff by Bert Cleaver, the then Squire of the Ring, at Thaxted in 1973. Our membership to the Ring had been proposed by Whitchurch Morris Men."
Traditional Bampton Morris Dancers Traditional 1937 Local tradition claims that Morris dancing in Bampton goes back “at least 400 years” with some claiming a couple of additional centuries. The earliest documented reference to a Morris side in Bampton dates to 1847 when the Reverend J A Giles complained of a deterioration in the quality of the dancing, suggesting that a tradition of dancing was sufficiently well established to withstand a timely critique. The contemporary history of Bampton Morris begins with William (‘Jinky’ or ‘Jingy’) Wells (1868-1953) who came from a family of Bampton Morris dancers and joined the side in 1887 as the Fool. When Bampton’s long-time fiddle player Dick Butler abruptly left the side mid-performance in 1899 after breaking his fiddle in a drainpipe, Wells jumped in with his fiddle and the side carried on. As the musician (and source of Sharp’s knowledge) of Bampton Morris, Wells shepherded the side through the First World War and on to a degree of fame in the early days of the English folk-dance revival. Link
Trigg Morris 1971 1975 Trigg were admitted to the Morris Ring at the Stratford Ring Meeting in June 1975.
Uttoxeter Heart of Oak Morris Dancers Traditional 1964 Uttoxeter Heart of Oak Morris were founded in 1954, and joined the Morris Ring at the Stratford-on-Avon Morris Ring Meeting in 1964. Link
Vancouver Morris Men
Victory Morris 1976 1980 Victory Morris was formed in 1975 by an ex-member of Cup Hill Morris (based in Surrey). The tricorn hat comes from this association. After practising during the winter of 1975/76 the first public performances took place on May Day 1976. Link
Wadard Morris Men - folded 2022 1977 1988 The Wadard Morris Men were formed in Farningham in 1977 when The Hartley Morris men left the Pied Bull for Wrotham. Several members of the club who were also members of Skinners Rats were using a recording studio at the Pied Bull and not wishing to loose this facility, they decided to stay in Farningham. The Founder members were Pete Hicks and his father Tom, Barrie Laing, Pete "Blossom" Currie. They were joined by John Kelly, John Studley, Tim Ash, Andrew and Roger Hearn, Julian Audsley, and Dave Grabham, The side practised and first danced at THE COACH HOUSE, AT THE PIED BULL Farningham, Kent (England). The first Wadard Morris Ale was also held at the Coach House. The Name of Wadard was taken from the Bayeux Tapestry Wadard is not a place, but the name of one of the knights mentioned by name and was the first lord of the manor of Farningham. Our badge is based on the depiction of Wadard on the Bayeux Tapestry and is also used as the the design of the weather-vane on the village hall at Farningham . Wadard and his land-holdings in Kent are also mentioned in the domesday survey. Over the past 38 years we have regulary danced at Pubs throughout the Darent Valley during the summer months. We can be seen dancing at Dawn 0532 at Eynsford Ford each year on May 1st. This has become "traditional" event always watched by an enthusiastic audience who come for the dancing, singing and in recent years our charity "Duck Race", and of course our hospitality. In May 1987 Wadard Morris Men were invited to take part in the May Queen's procession in the village of Offham. This has become a 'traditional' booking. With one or two exceptions we have led the procession through the village every year since. In 1988 The Wadard Moris Men side were admitted to the Morris Ring, sponsored by Boar's Head Morris Men and Green Oak Morris Men from Yorkshire. We danced in at the Thaxted Ring-Meeting in June dancing' Highland Mary', from the Ascott-under-Wychwood tradition, accompanied on the melodeon by Adrian Thorogood, then 13 years old. Since then we have attended Ring Meetings around the country almost every year since. In March 1995 and again in 2008 WMM hosted the Morris Ring ARM (Annual Representatives Meeting) in Meopham, Kent. In 2011 we attended the meeting to celebrate the Centenary of Thaxted Morris Men The Wadard Morris Men have travelled around the country as guests of many other clubs dancing in very many places making and meeting many friends, The Saddleworth Rushcart Festival based in Uppermill near Oldham and hosted By The Saddleworth Morris Men, is an event where Wadard are regularly represented and often have a full dancing side. Over the years the Wadard Morris Men have fostered relationships with dance clubs in Belgium have travelled to Belgium on about 10 occasions for visits to Lendelede and Bornem, and have hosted the De Speleman folkdance group from Bornem near Antwerp on about 5 occaisions. The side has appeared three times on television (not including repeats).The first was in 1983 (?) in a program "The Pilgrim's Way in June" part of a series "Country Ways" made for TV South and recorded at the "Chequers"at Heaverham. The second, unscheduled, was a clip of amateur video shown in "You've been Framed" in which one of our members slipped dramatically and inelegantly during a display on loose gravel at a local school fete. The third was an appearance in "Surprise, surprise!" with Cilla Black. Wadard Morris Men have always held a Christmas Carol evening. Originally held in one of the local pubs and consisting of Carols and a performance by the Wadard Mummers. In 2000 we decided to hold "Carols by Torchlight" at the Ford at Eynsford followed by more carols, songs, stories and of course the mummers play back at Horton Kirby Village Hall, for the first year only. This proved to be very popular with the local residents of Eynsford and has been continued every year since at Eynsford Village Hall with the exception of 2009 when heavy snow caused the event to be cancelled. All performances are by Friends of Wadard Moris men, many of them members of local morris dance clubs. In 2004 Wadard Moris Men ventured into the recording studio to produce our first music CD Hic Est Wadard. (Actually the back room of a pub where one of our number was acting as stand in landlord). All the songs from the CD can be heard regularly on Wednesday evenings when we are out on our weekly tours during the summer months. The CD is now sold out In July 2017 Wadard Morris men celebrated their 40th anniversarry with a day of dance with guests Ravensbourne Morris men and St Clements Clogs and many past members of Wadard Morris Men. We started the tour at Eynsford Ford where we dance on Mayday Morning, and ended at The pied Bull at Farningham where the side was formed in 1977. Side folded 2022 Link
Wakefield Morris Dancers Traditional 2019 The team performs a style of Morris dancing known as “North West” Morris, originating in Lancashire in the late 19th century where teams were formed to take a central role in the annual village carnival processions. Some of the dances that Wakefield Morris perform were traditionally used in such processions in the early 20th century, but over time the team has also written dances of its own, taking their inspiration and dance names from landmarks in and around Horbury. These team-written dances are now collectively known as the Horbury Suite. The team colours of blue and gold are taken from the crest of Wakefield City. The men’s costume (kit) is based on a traditional dance kit from the 1890s, and consists of black clogs, yellow/gold socks, black britches, yellow/gold cummerbund, white shirt, blue sash and blue cap. The women’s kit is designed to complement the men’s in colour and to fit well into the dance style. The current kit was designed to celebrate the millennium, and consists of black clogs, black tights, blue dress and white shirt. In the 43 years that the team has existed they have toured in France and Germany and performed at many folk festivals throughout England. We have gained a reputation for a fast and lively dance style, and are considered to be one of the best mixed North-West Morris sides in the country.
Wantage Mummers 1976 1913 First official Boxing Day Performance was 1977. The play presented is from a local village as collected in 1875. The play has been performed every year since 1977. Link
Wantsum Morris Men
Wath Morris 1972 1978 The side formed in November 1972, learning its first dances from Ivor Allsop and performing in public for the first time in May 1973. This was at the first May Welcoming Celebrations, which became the Wath Festival. When the side applied to join the Morris Ring it was told to improve its standard, and under the tutelage of Bert Cleaver focussed on Bledington dances and soon became renown nationally for their dancing skill and standards of performance. For many years the side has also danced Border Morris for the winter months and blend both traditions at a number of regular annual tours and dance-outs, including a weekend in Whitby another in the Yorkshire Dales and a local tour called "Pretty Villages", together with the annual Boxing Day dancing in Wentworth. The side also dances in local fire festivals each December and performs a mummers play regularly too. Music and singing has always been a key part of Wath Morris, and dance-outs and weekends away will usually include a sing-round with members and friends performing well loved songs. Link
Wessex Morris Men 1957 1965 Wessex Morris Men were founded in 1957 by a group of young men out of The White Horse Morris Men. Link
West Somerset Morris 1965 1969
Westminster Morris Dancers 1953
Whitchurch Morris 1948 1949 In 1948 two sets of brothers, four Hogstons and two Aldermans who lived in Whitchurch, a village in Buckinghamshire, decided they would like to have a go at Morris dancing. Luckily, they found a good teacher nearby, Dr. Lionel Bacon, a distinguished figure in the revival of Morris dancing. He taught them well, within three years these absolute beginners were dancing at a festival at the Albert Hall. Today our dancers are scattered across three counties and since 2018 we have become a mixed side. Link
White Hart Morris Men 1970
White Rose Morris 1953 1959
Winchester Morris Men 1953 1953 Winchester Morris Men came into existence on 11th March 1953 at the Eclipse Inn, The Square, Winchester and became members of the Ring in the same year; our dances and style of costume broadly reflect those seen in the Cotswolds during the nineteenth century. Link
Witchmen 1982
Woodchurch Morris Traditional 1990 17th October 2024 Sad to report that Woodchurch Morris has closed its books, waved its last clout and jingled its last bell. Tenterden Folk Festival was, fittingly perhaps, our last day out, down to five dancers again and muddling along with some very welcome help. As with many sides we have found it very difficult to grow and replace lost numbers in sufficient quantity. There are many people to thank, previous members, fellow sides, dancers and musicians, pubs and publicans, event organisers and friends, far too many to mention individually. You know who you are. We have an arrangement to put up a Christmas tree in the church which we shall honour, the bag shall go to The Pilgrim’s Hospice in honour of our splendid departed fellow morrisman, we shall keep this page open as an archive and for contacts. The AGM we had last week was a rather sombre one with some of the usual disagreements, but also one tinged with jollity and we all agreed that over the years we have had the most tremendous fun.
World Famous Ashdown Mummers
Wrigley Head Morris Men 1915
Wyvern Jubilee Morris 1977 1985 Danced into the Ring in 1985 (Cardiff Ring 6-8 September), were Associate members from 1978
Yateley Morris Men 1975 1978 The Yateley Morris Men were formed in 1975/6 and danced in at Thaxted in 1978 " The Squire of the Ring led six Yateley Morris Men and musician to the crossing, where John Bull stood holding the cross. The 29th of May was danced, the men wearing their top hats, and ending with a shout at the all-in. The congregation clapped." Link