The Leominster Morris

About Us

There are different varieties of the Morris from different parts of the country, e.g. Cotswold, North West Clog and Molly Dancing from Cambridgeshire, East Anglia and Essex. The distinct tradition from our part of England has recently come to be known as the Welsh Border Morris.

Until the revival, LEOMINSTER MORRIS was last recorded as having danced in the very early part of the 20th century, when many of the traditions foundered, especially as a result of the First World War. They are described as having worn "print jackets." There is no other information, so our kit is an interpretation of the old, scant description.

The current LEOMINSTER MORRIS was formed in 1983 by men who had danced in other sides, in particular Breinton Morris, but who found themselves living in and around the town, with a common desire to revive the old Leominster tradition.

We dance prodominantly local 'Welsh Border' dances, but also some Cotswold dances. In the winter we concentrate on the local dances, as this is the traditional time of year to dance in our county. We wear our winter kit of black shirt and trousers with "printjackets" and we black our faces, in accordance with the 'Welsh Border' Morris Tradition. From May Day until autunm Equinox we wear white shirts and do not black our faces.

Many Morris sides have a Fool, Old Dame or Man-Animal, representing variously chaos, fertility and who knows what mysterious pagan beliefs. Our man-animal figure is the Ryeland Ram, because the wealth of Leominster in the middle ages was built on peerless fleeces of the local breed of sheep.

Although winter was the time for the Morris in Herefordshire, THE LEOMINSTER MORRIS now dance throughout the year. Our key annual occasions are:

The Wordsworth Stone (April 7th)
May Day (1st May - dawn)
Big Apple Blossom time & Blessing the Pressing (May & October)
Black Mountains Tour (winter)
Mummer's Play (Boxing Day)

However, our real raison d'etre is, of course, The Wassail (Twelfth Night- January 6th) when we carry out the venerable ritual of blessing the apple orchards to ensure a good crop of cider apples in the ensuing autumn. This magical midwinter evening comprises a torchlit procession through the lanes, the blessing ceremony & the Mummers play.

And here's one of our earliest reviews from a pamphlet on Old Meg of Herefordshire (1609):

"The courts of kings for stately measures; the Citie for light heeles and nimble footing; the country for shuffling dances; Westerne-men for gambouls; Middlesex men for tricks above the ground; Essex-men for the Hey; Lancashire for Horne-pypes; Worcestershire for Bag-pypes; but Herefordshire for a morris dance, puts down not only all of Kent, but verie neare (if one had line enough to measure it) three quarters of Christendome."