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. The "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.
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).
| Side Name | Side Formed | Joined Morris Ring | Notes & Link to side history page if available |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Sedgley Morris Men | 1979 | 1983 | Link |
| Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers | Traditional | - | Records back to 1560. Link |
| Adderbury Village Morris Men | Traditional | - | 18th Century. Revival in 1974. Link |
| 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. Link |
| Aldbury Morris Men | 1969 | 1999 | Link |
| Anker Morris Men | 1975 | 1980 | Link |
| Ashdown Forest Morris Men | 1972 | 1977 | Link. "AFMM danced in as members of the Ring in 1977, at the Colchester Ring Meeting of that year." - Bob Draper |
| Bampton Morris Dancers (Traditional) | Traditional | - | Link : 600 years of Morris history. |
| Banchory-Ternan Morris Men | 1975 | - | Link |
| Barnsley Longsword Dancers | 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 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 schools Scout group and in 1934 "Mrs. Oakey's Boys" side was born. This side later grew into the "Bathampton Morris Men". joined the MR in 1968. Link |
| Beaux of London City | 1947 | 1947 | Link |
| Bedford Morris Men | 1932 | 1936 | Link |
| Belchamp Morris Men | 1976 | 1989 | Link |
| Benfieldside Morris and Sword Dancers | 1963 | - | - |
| Boar's Head Morris Men | 1972 | - | Upon folding in 2005, merged to give birth to Great Yorkshire Morris based in Pool, Harrogate |
| Bourne River Morris Men | 1967 | 1975 |
See full history at their website http://www.bournerivermorris.org.uk/ Associate side from 1972; elected to full membership December 1974. Danced in at the 151st meeting - Thaxted, 31st May 1975 |
| Brackley Morris Men | Traditional | - | Records back to 1623, 400 years of history |
| Bristol Morris Men | 1951 | - | - |
| Britannia Coconut Dancers | Traditional | 1971 | 18-19th century Danced into the Ring at the Manchester Ring Meeting, Sept 1971. |
| Broadwood Sword & Morris Men | 1972 | - | - |
| Bury Pace Eggers | 1970 | 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 | Link |
| Cambridge Morris Men [On tour aka The Travelling Morrice] | 1911-12 | 1934 | Founder member of the Ring |
| Cardiff Morris Men | 1970 | - | Left in 2004 |
| 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 | 1970s | 1980 | - |
| Chanctonbury Ring Morris Men | 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!. See also their web site for updates. |
| Chapel-en-le-Frith Morris Men | 1975 | - | - |
| Chester City Morris Men | - | - | - |
| Chipping Campden Morris Men | Traditional | - | 1772 may be the earliest reference |
| City of Gloucester Mummers | 1969 | - | Disbanded 2014 |
| Claro Sword & Morris Men | 1979? | - | - |
| Colchester Morris Men | 1926 then 1953 | 1935 | The Colchester Club was founded in 1926, disbanded during World War II and re-established in 1953, remaining active ever since |
| Colne Royal Morris Men | 1896 & 1968 | 1970 | Joined Ring 1970 (Coventry) An earlier side ceased dancing in 1894. Ceased dancing in public in 2008 |
| Coventry Morris Men | 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!)" |
| 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. |
| Darlington Mummers | 1965 | - | - |
| Dartington Morris Men | 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. Link |
| Datchet Border Morris Men | 1991 (1961) | 1966 | Datchett MM in 1961 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 Morrismen | 1968 | 1971 | Clive Cowx writes:"A very full archive of the first 30 years of Dolphin's existence can be found at http://dolphinmorris.wixsite.com/archive and the next 10 years will be added in this detail soon." See also the history behind "The Gate to Southwell". |
| Durham Rams Sword and Morris Men | Early 1960s | - | - |
| Earlsdon Morris Men | 1971 | - | - |
| East Suffolk Morris Men | 1958 | 1966 | Suffolk MM in 1930s Link |
| East Surrey Morris Men | 1926 | 1934 | Founder member of the Ring Link |
| Etcetera Morris Men | 1st June 1975 | July 1981 (Kennet MM Ring Meeting) | 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: http://www.etcfolk.org.uk" |
| Everards Original Anstey Morris Men | 1983 | - | - |
| Ewell St Mary's Morris Men | 1979 | 1986 | Link |
| Exeter Morris Men | 1951 | - | - |
| Faithful City Morris Men | 1967 | - | - |
| Forest of Dean Morris Men | 1968 | - | Link Resigned 2017 - Ran out of men and decided to go mixed |
| Foresters Morris & Sword Dance Club | 1952 | 1956 | Eric Foxley wrote:"admitted to the Ring at the September Ring Meeting 1956 in Abingdon. I was there! |
| Furness Morris Men | 1963 | - | Left to form mixed side 2008 |
| Gloucestershire Morris Men | Early 1930s | 1938 | Link |
| Goathland Ploughstots | Traditional | - | Early 19th century. Revived in 1922 Link Left MR 2010 |
| 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 | |
| Great Yorkshire Morris | 2005 | - | See Boars Head MM |
| Green Ginger Morris & Sword | 1968 | 1971 | - |
| Green Man's Morris and Sword Club | - | - | - |
| Green Oak Morris Men [inc. Doncaster Mummers] | 1971 | - | - |
| Greensleeves Morris Men | 1926 | 1934 | Founder member of the Ring. See GMM History pages on their web site. |
| Grimsby Morris Men | 1969 | - | - |
| Hageneth Morris Men | - | - | - |
| Handsworth Traditional Sword Dancers | Traditional | - | Link |
| Harry Taylor's Morris | 2016 | 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. |
| Harthill Morris Men | 1976 | 1981 | Accepted into the MR at the Kennet Ring Meeting in 1981 receiving their membership staff from Fr Kenneth Loveless |
| 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. |
| Headington Quarry Morris Dancers | Traditional | - | History from 1700s |
| Helier Morris Men | 1975 | 1990 | - |
| Helmond Morris Men | 1935 | 1976 | See the web site http://morrisdans.nl for more information. HMM were started just a year after the Morris Ring was formed. |
| Horwich Prize Medal Morris Men | 1891 (1976) | 1979 | Reformed in 1976. Left to join the Morris Federation 2014 |
| Icknield Way Morris Men | 1950s | 1974 | - |
| Isca Morris Men | 1976 | - | - |
| Ilmington Morris Men | Traditional | - | Sam Bennet's side in late 19thC. Revived 1974 |
| Jockey Morris Men | 1949 | - | - |
| John O'Gaunt Morris (Lancaster) | 1968 | - | - |
| Kemp's Men of Norwich | 1956 | - | - |
| Kennet Morris Men | 1957 | 1962 | Danced in at the Cheltenham Ring Meeting in 1962. The Kennet Morris Men - A Foolish History. Kennet's predecessors, Wargrave Morris, were inaugural members of the Morris Ring in 1934 before the 2nd WW intervened. Some of the Wargrave men founded Kennet. |
| King John's Morris Men | 1975 | 1981 | John Connell writes: "Our side was formed in 1975 as an off shoot of the Red Stags mixed side connected to 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 Kings Morris | 1978 | - | Became a mixed side October 2016 and joined the Morris Federation |
| Kinnerton Morris Men | 1976 | - | - |
| Lassington Oak Morris Men | 1977 | - | - |
| Leicester Morris Men | 1953 | - | - |
| Letchworth Morris Men | 1922 | - | Founder member of Ring |
| Leyland Morris Men | 1966 | - | Team at Leyland for over 100 years (1889 emblem) |
| Lichfield Morris Men [Inc. Armitage Mummers] | - | - | Earliest record 1747 |
| Lincoln & Micklebarrow Morris Men (2) | - | - | - |
| London Pride Morris Men | 1930s | 1937 | - |
| Long Man Morris Men | 1978 | 1984 | Associate side from 1980 |
| Lord Conyers Morris Men | - | - | - |
| Malvern Swordsmen | - | - | - |
| Manchester Morris Men | 1930 | 1936 | History |
| Martlet Sword & Morris Men | 1953 | 1956 | History |
| 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 |
| Men of Wight Morris Men | - | - | - |
| Mendip Morris Men | 1956 | - | - |
| Mersey Morris Men | 1960 | - | - |
| Milton Morris Men | 1983 | - | - |
| Monkseaton Morris Men | 1955 | - | - |
| Mossley Morris Men | 1981 | - | Tradition dates back to the early 19thC |
| Moulton Morris Men | 1972 | - | 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 Wood Morris Men | 1975 | 1984 | - |
| Northampton Morris Men | 1949 | 1952 | - |
| Oakworth Village Morris Men | 1981 | 1984 | - |
| Offley Morris Men | 1955 | - | - |
| Oxford City Morris Men | 1938 | - | - |
| Packington Morris Men | 1975 | 1980 | - |
| Peterborough Morris Men | 1979 | - | - |
| Pinewoods Morris Men | 1964 | 1965 | - |
| Plymouth Morris Men | 1970 | 1975 | - |
| 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 |
| Redcar Sword Dancers | 1967 | - | - |
| Richmond on Swale Morris Men | 1973 | - | - |
| Ripley Morris Men | 1924 & 1981 | - | stopped in 50's, then restarted 1981 |
| Royal Liberty Morris | - | - | - |
| Royal Preston Morris Dancers | Late 1800s, then 2000 | - | Merger of Preston Royal Morris Dancers and Royal Lancashire Morris Dancers in 2000 |
| Rumford Morris | - | - | - |
| Rutland Morris Men | 1974 | 1978 | - |
| Saddleworth Morris Men | 1974 | - | - |
| Shakespeare Morris Men | 1959 | 1965 | - |
| Silkeborg Morris Men | 1976 | - | - |
| Silurian Border Morris Men | 1969 | - | - |
| South Shropshire Morris Men | - | - | - |
| Southport Sword Dancers | 1968 | - | - |
| Spring Grove Morris Men | 1977 | 1984 | - |
| St Albans Morris Men | 1930 | 1934 | Joined The Morris Ring at the Inaugural Meeting at CSH 20/10/1934 |
| Stafford Morris Men | 1957 | 1961 | Records of other Stafford sides before present SMM |
| Standon Morris Men | 1954 | 1977 | Became a mixed side in 2013 |
| Stevenage Sword Dancers | 1973 | 1975 | Became a mixed side in 2015 |
| Stockton Morris Men | - | - | 2017 Ran out of men and retired |
| Sweyn's Ey Morris and Sw. Dancers (Men of) | 1966 | 1978 | Keith Lascelles writes: "The Men of Sweyn's Ey effectively started in 1966, although were known as The Mighty Men of Madoc for the first two or three years. We were admitted to the Ring at the Ludlow meeting in 1978." |
| Sydney Morris Men | 1975 | 1979 | John Milce writes: "The Sydney Men formed in 1975, were made members of the Ring in 1979, and disbanded in 2008. |
| Taunton Deane Morris Men | 1973 | 1976 | - |
| Thames Valley Morris Men | 1952 | 1955 | - |
| Thaxted Morris Men | 1911 | 1934 | Founder member of Ring |
| Thelwall Morris Men | 1973 | 1976 | See A Long History of Thelwall Morris Men |
| Towersey 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." |
| Trigg Morris Men | 1971 | 1975 | Trigg were admitted to the Morris Ring at the Stratford Ring Meeting in June 1975. |
| Het Utrecht Morris Team | 1979 | 1991 | - |
| Uttoxeter Heart of Oak Morris Men | 1955 | 1964 | Mac McCoig writes: Joined at the Stratford-on-Avon Morris Ring Meeting in 1964. See Uttoxer MM website |
| Vancouver Morris Men | - | - | - |
| Victory Morris Men | 1976 | - | - |
| Wadard Morris Men | 1977 | - | - |
| Wantsum Morris Men | 1967 | 1970 | - |
| Wath upon Dearne Morris Men | 1972 | 1978 | - |
| Wessex Morris Men | 1957 | - | - |
| West Somerset Morris Men | 1965 | 1969 | - |
| Westminster Morris Men | 1952 | 1953 | Mike Wilson-Jones wrote:I guess you'd have to say formed in 1952, as they were at a Ring Instructional at CSH in March 1953 and were admitted to the Ring at Thaxted meeting 1953. |
| Whitchurch Morris Men | 1948 | - | - |
| White Hart Morris Men | 1970s | - | - |
| White Horse Morris Men | - | - | - |
| White Rose Morris Men | 1953 | 1959 | - |
| Winchester Morris Men | 1953 | - | - |
| Winster Morris Men | Traditional | - | before 1863 |
| Woodside Morris Men | 1956 | 1957 | - |
| Wyvern Jubilee Morris Men | 1977 | 1985 | Danced into the Ring in 1985 (Cardiff Ring 6-8 September), were Associate members from 1978 |
| Yateley Morris Men | 1976 | - | - |
| Associate Members | |||
| Albion Morris Men | - | - | - |
| Alvechurch Border Morris | 1989 | Associate in 2007 | - |
| Armitage Mummers | - | - | - |
| Ashdown Mummers | 1973 | - | - |
| Blackheath Morris Men | 1970s | - | - |
| Blackmore Morris Men | - | - | - |
| Blue Anchor Morris | - | - | - |
| Bovey Tracey Mummers | - | - | - |
| Boyden Gate [Mummers of] | - | - | - |
| Buckland Shag Morris Men | 1987 | - | - |
| Chameleonic Morris Men | - | - | - |
| Charlbury Morris | 1984 | - | 2014 - resigned to join Morris Federation |
| Cinque Port Morris Men | 2008 | - | - |
| Clydeside Rapper | 1986 | - | Colin Messer writes: Founded: 1986 as a men's side - Clydeside Rapper emerged from Gallus Morris Men, they ceased in 2002 and are now a mixed side - Clydeside Sword and Step. |
| Crendon Morris Men | 1967 | - | - |
| Ebor Morris Men | 1973 | - | - |
| Ferrette Morris Men | 2003 | - | - |
| Frome Valley Morris | 1978 | - | - |
| Gallus Morris Men | - | - | - |
| Good Easter Molly Gang | - | - | - |
| Great Yorkshire Morris | - | - | - |
| Greenwich Morris Men | - | - | - |
| Hexham Morris Men | 1976 | - | - |
| High Spen Blue Diamonds | 1926 | - | - |
| Hinckley Bullockers | - | - | - |
| Hoddesdon Crownsmen | - | - | - |
| King Stone Rappers | 2005 | - | - |
| Leominster Morris | 1983 | - | Side at beginning of 20th C |
| Man Friday Morris Men | - | - | - |
| Merrie England Mummers | 1974 | - | - |
| Mid Winter Mummers | - | - | - |
| Morris 18 - 30 | 2002 | - | - |
| North Curry Mummers | - | - | - |
| One Day Wonders Travelling Morris | 1987 | - | After 30 years the Final Tour returned to Shropshire where ita ll started - and ended on 13th May 2017 |
| Plymouth Reunion Morris Men | - | - | - |
| Rose & Castle Morris Men | 1977 | - | - |
| Saint Bees Mummers | - | - | - |
| St Nicholas-at-Wade with Sarre Hoodeners | - | - | - |
| Sallyport Sword Dancers | 1969 | - | - |
| Spen Valley Longsword Dancers | 1974 | - | - |
| Stockport Morris Men | 1984 | - | Origin ca 1885 |
| Stourvale Mummers | - | - | - |
| Tarka Morris Men | 1991 | - | - |
| Thameside Mummers | 1971 | - | - |
| The Illustrious Order of Fools & Beasts, | 1979 | - | http://www.foolsandbeasts.org.uk/ |
| The (Insert Name Here) Mummers | - | - | - |
| Welsh Border Morris Men | 1973 | - | - |
| Woodchurch Morris Men | - | - | - |
| Yelvertoft Morris Men | - | - | - |