Northwest Clog

The ladies dance in the Northwest Morris tradition dancing with garlands, sticks and slings. In our colourful green and yellow costumes and clogs on our feet we uphold a tradition which dates back to the rush bearing ceremonies of old.

The North West tradition has always featured mixed and female sides - at least as far back as the eighteenth century. There is a picture of Eccles Wakes (painted in the 1820s, judging by the style of dress of some of the participants and spectators) that shows both male and female dancers.

The dancers originally wore clogs and were often associated with rushcarts at the local wakes or holidays. The dances themselves were often called 'maze' or 'garland dances' as they involved a very intricate set of movements in which the dances wove in and out of each other. Some dances were performed with a wicker hoop (decorated with garlands of flowers) held above the dancer's head. Some dancers were also associated with a tradition of mumming, holding a pace egging play in their area.

Towards the end of the nineteenth century, the Lancashire tradition was taken up by sides associated with mills and nonconformist chapels, usually composed of young girls. These lasted until the First World War, after which many mutated into 'jazz dancers.' (A Bolton troupe can be seen in a pre-war documentary by Humphrey Jennings) They later evolved into 'pom pom' dancers (still called 'morris dancers' by older people). During the folk revival in the 1960s, many of the old steps to dances such as 'Stubbins Lane Garland' were often passed on by old people.

For further information, contact the Ladies Forman at ladiesforeman@bishopgundulfs.co.uk or Squire at squire@bishopgundulfs.co.uk

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