Blanford Forum - Sunday Revels

Nelsons Ale House, Blandford Forum - image by Trish Steel [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

"It appears from a Sermon made at Blanford Forum, in the Countie of Dorset, on Wensday the 17th of January 157O, by William Kethe, 8vo, that it was the custom at that time for the Church Ales to be kept upon the sabbath-day ; which holy day, says our author, "the multitude call their revelyng day, which day is spent in bulbeatings, bearebeatings, bowlings, dicyng, cardyng, daunsynges, drunkennes, and whoredome," " in so much, as men could not keepe their servauntes from, lyinge out of theyr owne houses the same sabbath-day at night.""

Brand 1813

 

Map - Blandford Forum

Banning the Wakes in Exeter and Somersetshire

Exeter Morris Men dancing!

"When an order was made in 1627 and in 1631, at Exeter, and in Somersetshire, for the suppression of the Wakes [I think these where Wakes on the night before the parish church's saint day, associated with dancing, music and drink, and the feasting on the day itself], both the Ministers and the People desired their continuance, not only for preserving the memorial of the dedication of their several Churches, but for civilizing the parishioners, composing differences by the mediation and meeting of friends, increasing of love, and unity, by these feasts of charity, and for the relief and comfort of the poor."

Brand 1813

 






  

 

Map - Exeter

Three Cornish Stone Circles and their myths

Boscawen Un Stone Circle - Alan Simkins [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

"The celebrated circle of nineteen stones,--which is seen on the road to the Land's End,--known as the "Boscawen un Circle," is another example." [of people turned to stone for dancing] "The "Nine Maids," or the "Virgin Sisters," in Stithians, and other "Nine Maids," or, as called in Cornish, Naw-whoors, in St Colomb-Major parish, should also be seen, in the hope of impressing the moral lesson they convey yet more strongly on the mind...

...The following quotations are front Davies Gilbert. It must not be forgotten that this gentleman was President of the Royal Society, and therefore a sceptic in local tradutionary story:-- -

"On the south-west part of the parish of Stithians, towards Gwendron, are still to be seen nine Stones set perpendicularly erect in the earth, in a direct manner, about ten feet apart, called the Nine Maids, probably set up there in memory of nine religious sisters or nuns in that place before the fifth century; not women turned into stone, as the English name implies, and as the country people thereabout will tell you"

"The Nine Maids--in Cornish, Naw-voz, alias the nine sisters--in Cornish, Nawwhoors--which very name informs us that they were sepulchral stones, erected in memory either of suns natural or spiritual Sisters of some religious house, and not so many maids turned into stones for dancing on the Sabbath-day, as the country people will tell you. Those stones are set in order by a line, as is such another monument, also called the Nine Maids, in Gwendron, by the highway, about twenty-five feet distance Irons each other.""

Hunt 1903

Map - Boscawen un Circle

Map - Nine Maids of Stithians parish

Map - Naw-whoors Stone Row of St Colomb-Major

The Merry Maidens, or Dawns Myin, and the pipers of Burian

The Merry Maidens, or Dance-Maine, 1804 - By W & G Cooke [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

"In the parish of Burian are the "Dawns Myin" or Mên--the dancing stones--commonly called "The Merry Maidens;" and near them are two granite pillars, named the "Pipers." One Sabbath evening some of the thought. less maidens of the neighbouring village, instead of attending vespers, strayed into the fields, and two evil spirits, assuming the guise of pipers, began to play some dance tunes. The young people yielded to the temptation; and, forgetting the holy day, commenced dancing. The excitement increased with the exercise, and soon the music and the dance became extremely wild; when, lo a flash of lightning from the clear sky transfixed them all, the tempters and the tempted, and there in stone they stand."

Hunt 1903

Map - The Merry Maidens

Some more on the Dartmoor Folk Festival

[As I mentioned before I really love this small and eccentric festival.  It is held in South Zeal,on the edge of Dartmoor

The field before the crowds gathered at Dartmoor Folk Festival 2001.  Some of these photos are by me, some by my wife Lunar Hine - Please accredit one or other of our blogs if you wish to use them.

They help keep alive a number of local traditions. One is the local Step Dancing.  I have come across mentions of this happening in the farmhouses around Dartmoor back into victorian times, and I haeve no dobt there would have been local dance tradition before this.

The winner of the youth section of the step dancing competition 2011

I missed the main competition (I have witnessed it before - preformed on a cart top, with the musician playing a small concertina facing away from the competitor so that he does not favour one person over another. Men and women compete. In the crowd old ladies sit and mutter to each other about how well - or not - a competitor is doing.  It seems they are permitted to bring a bit of their own style in, but if they are seen as going too far into some more mainstream form of tap dancing they frowned on).

 

This video is on its side - sorry!

All I saw this year was the two winners, the adult and the child's category, preforming their dances. Unfortunately it was at very short notice, so soft shoes where used instead of hard.

And this one...  Oh well - the adult winner

The Step Dancing Memorial Cup

The Bob Cann Shield for step dancing.  I am not sure whether this or the cup is for adults...

Talking of shoes - one year I saw a dance off in the Kings Arms for a pair of shoes at this festival - in the corner rumored to be the domain of a Devon gypsy family - it is always full of musicians and dancers anyway!

The winner of the broom dancing took center stage, surrounded by her fellow competitors. This year the fashion for stripy socks added to the display!

Another competition is the children's broom dancing - another local tradition. This year it was almost all girls, and the brooms where decorated. This is a good dance, though it seems to have only one form that is repeated. Personally I would like to see a few adult broom dancers, and maybe an evolving tradition to run alongside the fixed dance - there is a lot you could do with a broom.

The broom dancing shield, 1991-2011 so far, first presented by the Exeter Morris men and Bob Cann - the founder of the festival.

The winner of the Broom dancing championship also wins the years broom - later the girl who won was seen proudly carrying it around the village.  The mini broom has the newish colours of Devon on it (they actually relate to the county sports teams, lord Exmouth and the lush hills and granite of the area, as well as Westcountry saint Petroc.

Morris dancers also abounded, much to the pleasure (and occasional fear) of my litle daughter. She was fine when they danced, even growling and laughing at them when they rushed at us with sticks, but when they milled around unchaperoned by the music she got a little anxious, espesially at the ragged, flower headed, blacked out faced Exmoor Morris Dancers.

Dartmouth?? Morris

Also present where Dartmouth? Morris and Lodestone Morris.  I think there was also one of the genuinely old sides from Oxfordshire that never died out.

Lots of beer was drunk and music played.  Only later was I aware of the irony that while around England young people where drinking heavily and wielding big sticks (baseball bats and truncheons) in the rioting and looting that was happening in the poor areas of our cities here on Dartmoor everyone was actively turning up to watch people hit each other with sticks and drink far, far, far to much...

Sticks and drink - a tamer sort of riot...

Music was everywhere.  This man was from Lodestone morris, and showed me a penny whistle that could be played in only one hand...

Most of the Morris dancing was in the streets and by the pub, but at the end of the day they came on to the main arena. Ths is Lodestone Morris again.

Exmoor Morris dancing again. This group made a big thing about having come sooo very far, from foreign lands... Exmoor...

My daughter learning to walk and dance to the music. She and the other small children saw the dance floor as the place to be, and between dance acts nobody stopped them charging around to the sound of the accordion.

Finally the intimidating Minehead Sailors Horse (a hobby horse) did its wild dance and 'bumbped' its unsuspecting victim...

 The only things I have to add that I can remember was about the stalls - many where stuffed with local crafts - jewelry, prints, bee products...  The one that stuck most in my mind was sett up for one day only. in the street outside the festival, under the bunting, a small boy stood at a workmate with a hammer, chisel and some pots of paint. He has been there a few years that I have been. He had mined some rusty used horseshoes out from behind a barn on his parents farm and did them all up smart. A sign proclaimed "Lucky Devon Horseshoes". Next year I will photograph his wheres.

That reminds me - on the bus through Drewsteinton I noticed three old horseshoes, all toe down, on the same barn door. They had been painted over many times. A very lucky barn I think, considering the folkloric power of three.]

Maypoles Galore! [work in progress]

[Note:  Many of these sources are still in copyright - however if my understanding of UK copyright law is correct the facts contained in them cannot be copyrighted, only the exact words, structure, images or layout (in these respects this page is unique and original, or using public domain images). As a mark of thanks and to add interest I have included a link to my sources.  If you own one of the sites or books I have used and do not want me to link to you please say, and I shall remove it.  If anyone wants to link to me I would be delighted!

I have also been very strict with dates - most of these places have had Maypoles erected for many many other years as well.

Where Maypoles have been used -

Cornwall

Brown Willy (Bron Wenelly, or Swallow Hill), 2010 (Here)

Bude, 2011 (Here)

Crealy, 2008 (Here)

Grade-Ruen, 2009 (Here)

Helston, ? (Here)

Mawnan Smith, ? (Here)

Millpool, 2008 (Here)

Padstow, 1923 (Here)

Padstow, 1935 (Here)

Padstow, 1980 (Here)

Padstow, 2004 (Here)

Padstow 2005 (Here)

Padstow, 2006 (Here)

Padstow, 2007 (Here)

Paul, ? (Here)

Penryn, ? (Here)

Saltash, 2011 (Here)

Troon, 1981 (Here)

West Loe, 2010 (Here)

Devon

Awliscombe, 2009, (Here)

Belstone, 2010 (Here)

Chagford, 1977 (The Book of Chagford: A Town Apart (Community History Series))

Denbury, 2011 (Here)

High Willheys, 2009 (Here, and Here)

Honicknowle, Plymouth, 1934 (Here)

Ilfracombe, 1999-2011 (Here)

Kingsteignton, ? (from a friend)

Lustleigh, -2010 (from a friend)

Malborough, 1994 (Here)

Meavy, 2004 (Here)

Meavy, 2011 (Here)

Moretonhampstead, 1981 (Here)

North Bovey, 2011 (Here)

Parracombe, 2008 (Here)

Shaldon, 2011 (Here)

Sticklepath, 2009 (Here)

Sticklepath, 2010 (Here)

Stoke Gabriel, 2010 (Here)

Tavistock, ? (Here)

Tiverton, 2009 (Here)

Tiverton, 2010 (Here)

Torrington, 2010 (Here)

Widecombe-in-the-Moor, 2008 (Here)

Woodbury, 2011 (from a friend)

Dorset

Abbotsbury, 2006 (Here)

Bridport, 2005 (Here)

Bridport, 2008 (Here)

Bridport, 2011 (Here)

Bridport, 2012 (Here)

Buckhorn Weston, ? (Here)

Cern Abbas, ? (Here)

Colehill, 2000 (Here)

Colehill, 2001 (Here)

Durweston, 1920's (Here)

Durweston, 1958 (Here)

Durweston, 1961 (Here)

Durweston, 1971 (Here)

Durweston, 2008 (Here)

Durweston, 2009 (Here)

Durweston, 2010 (Here)

Durweston, 2011 (Here)

Fontmell Magna, 1904 (Here)

Fontmell Magna, 1960 (Here)

Glanvilles Wootton, 1909 (Here)

Gussage All Saints, 2009 (Here)

Litton Cheney, 2005 (Here)

Loders, 2007 (Here)

Loders, 2008 (Here)

Milton Abbas, 2009 (Here)

Monkton Wylde, 2003 (from Lunar Hine)

Puddletown, 2006 (Here)

Shaftsbury, 2010, (Here)

Shillingstone, 1929 (The Folklore Calendar by George Long)

Stalbridge, 2010 (Here)

Sturminster Marshal, 1669 (Here)

Sturminster Marshal, 1867 (Here)

Sturminster Marshal, 1897 (Here)

Sturminster Marshal, 1986 (Here)

Sturminster Marshal, 2003 (Here)

Sturminster Marshal, 2004 (Here)

Sturminster Marshal, 2007 (Here)

Sturminster Marshal, 2008 (Here)

Sturminster Marshal, 2009 (Here)

Sturminster Marshal, 2011 (Here)

Weymouth, 1977 (Here)

Weymouth, 2004 (Here)

Weymouth, 2005 (Here)

Winterbourne Houghton, 2006 (Here)

Winterbourne Houghton, 2007 (Here)

Winterbourne Strickland, 2006 (Here)

Somerset (incl. Bath and Bristol)

Allerford, ? (Here)

Buckland St Mary, ? (Here)

Butleigh, 1906 (Here)

Dunster, ? (Here)

Earth Spirit, Dundon, 2011 (from a friend)

Iron Acton, ? (Here)

Selworthy, ? (Here)

Shepton Beauchampe, 2011 (Here)

South Horrington, 1960-1980 (Here)

Wells, 1970-1990, 2009 (Here)

Weston, 2011 (Here)

Windmill Hill City Farm, Bristol, early 1980's (from my memory)

Yeovil, ? (from The Faery Folklorist)

Almost all of these are not of the type one might have found in medieval times, but they come from the same root, merely taking on addornments and styles of the late 19th / early 20th century. I would argue that this is an extencion of the long shaddow of the maypole, cast through pagan and christian and athiest eras. Comunity, dance, music and weird wyrd still, as always, weave a compelling and entrancinfg dance. The deaper and wider the roots, the stronger the tree. I hope the Mayday bankholiday is retained - even if it is not Mayday will continue, but perhaps not in the vibrant comunity binding way it does to this day, and has done for millenia.

Of course Maypoles in this form are not the only markers of mayday - plenty of other places and people mark this turning of the year. I am merely reflecting in this post one angle of this verdant moment in our collective calendar. 

I have done a separate map for maypole sitings - accessed here.

If you know of other maypoles please comment bellow... ]

Introduction to Saint Columb silver ball hurling article, mentioning Flora Day at Helston

Flora-day at Helston - by Rod Allday [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

"Of all the counties of England which possess certain definite and peculiar characteristics which distinguish them from the rest, there is none, perhaps, so strikingly marked in this way as the far-away county of Cornwall. So remote is it from the great centres of civilisation and commerce, stretching itself away from the rest of England, and reaching out into the vast Atlantic, as though it would shake hands with the land of the “Stars and Stripes”—living upon its own resources, self-satisfied and self-contained—it goes on in its quiet, sober, sleepy way, disturbed only by a general election or some great religious awakening.

Is it any wonder that superstitions linger long and find it hard to die in this land of pixies, pasties, and pilchards? And is it surprising that strange customs which have come down through the ages, clinging from generation to generation with strong tenacity, should still obtain among the people in spite of the advent of the railway and the board- school? Every parish holds on to its “feast,” and every town boasts of its “fair,” while each village and hamlet has a special feature or function of its very own.

Helstone—dreamy, picturesque Helstone — has its “Flora-day,” when its inhabitants turn out en masse, and to the lively stains of a brass band dance through the streets from one end of the town to the other..." [cont.]

Burrow 1899

Map - Helston 

 The Boy's Own Annual. Volume 21. 1898 - 1899

Introduction to Mayday by Hewett

Lustliegh May Queen Rock -  By Owain.davies (Own work) [CC-BY-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

"From the time of the Roman evacuation of Britain, A.D. 410, May Day festivals have been observed throughout the country. The Saxons retained the worship of Maia, the mother of Jupiter, on the first of the month, and from this custom the month derived its name.

This popular festival was observed with the joyful ringing of bells, music, dancing, and mummings. Every building was covered with a profusion of floral decorations. Kings and queens did not object to join the members of their Court, civic dignitaries, and the populace, in the enjoyment of May Day gaieties. The makers of the fun adorned themselves with wreaths and festoons of flowers. Girls, wearing a profusion of flowers, danced around the Maypole to the wild strains of fifes and drums. Men visited the beer shops, where they imbibed more than was good for them.

As the custom grew old, abuses crept in, and what was once a picturesque and innocent recreation degenerated into frantic drunken revels, which were a scandal and a nuisance."

Hewett 1900

[At a time when the government are threatening to remove our mayday bank-holiday it is worth remembering that this is among  the oldest holidays in Britain. As the festival was celebrated in Pagan Ireland it is very likely that it pre-dates the Romans and is thus our oldest that is true to its roots as a celebration of the changing year.]

Lucky in Devon - 11

Fairies Dance? - Some rights reserved by Number Six (bill lapp) http://www.flickr.com/photos/blapp/387550396/sizes/o/

It is lucky

"To see a company of fairies dancing in the adit of a mine, as it indicates the presence of valuable lodes."

Hewett 1900

On Nocturnal Dance of Fairies "Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus", book 3 by Olaus Magnus 1555

Chagford Pixies

Me in Chagford! - if you wish to use my photos please attribute this blog - thanks!

"As a gentleman, late at night, was driving across the moor to Chagford, a village in mid-Devon, he was startled by the merry tinkle of tiny bells. Lights appeared in the meadows close at hand as of thousands of glow-worms shedding their luminous rays on every leaflet, while an innumerable company of small people tripped joyously to the sportive music. Every movement of this assemblage of fairies was distinctly seen by him. He reined in his horse, and watched for a considerable time their merry antics. He sat motionless, the better to catch the spirit of the sportive scene. The sward was crowded with myriads of sprites, some waving garlands of tiny wild flowers, roses and blue bells, others joining in the dance, while not a few bestrode the slender stalks of tall grasses, which scarcely bent beneath their feathery weight. All went merrily till the shrill crow of chanticleer rang out on the midnight air, when suddenly darkness fell and the gorgeous scene with its fantastically attired crowd vanished from the wayfarer's sight.

The villagers assert that on peaceful nights they often hear the echoes of delightful music and the tripping patter of tiny feet issuing from the meadows and hill sides.

By wells and rills, in meadows green
We nightly dance our heyday guise,
And to our fairy king and queen
We chant our moonlight minstrelsies,
When larks 'gin sing,
Away we fling,
And babes new-born steal as we go ;
And elf in bed,
We leave instead,
And wend us laughing, ho! ho! ho!"

Hewett 1900

Map - Chagford (exact location uncertain)

Devon Dreams D - F

"The following few examples shew " the stuff which dreams are made of."

Dancing. 
This is fortunate. You will gain riches, honour, and many friends. Your life will be long, happy, and prosperous.

The Dead.
To dream of the dead brings news of the living.

Ducks.
To see them in a pond swimming about is an omen of good luck.

Eggs. 
That you are eating eggs shews you will be delivered from great tribulation. That you break them when raw, shews loss of friends and fortune.

Empty Vessels
Shew that your life will be one of toil and privation.

Eating.
Portends sickness and death.

Fish.
To dream of fish shows that you will have an abundance of wealth and good things. Also that you will be successful in love.

Fire.
To dream of fire shews that you will have hasty news.

Flowers.
Always a good dream ; is a sure sign of of joy, success and prosperity. "

Hewett 1900

The North Walk and Ragged-Jack

18th-century engraving reproducing a bas-relief found at Autun, France, depicting "two druids" J.R. Planché, "History of British costume" (1836) [1]
reprinted in Knight, Charles: "Old England: A Pictorial Museum" (1845)
immediate source: Liam's Pictures from Old Books - originally uploaded on Wikimedia Commons by Chris 73; reuploaded by Nyo

"The North Walk - the more picturesque of the two roads that lead to the famous Valley of Rocks - is one of the finest cliff walks in England. It was made by a Mr. Sanford in 1817. After walking along it for the distance of about half a mile, a great, rugged, and fantastically jagged tor appears on the left. It is the celebrated Ragged Jack with his companions. There is a legend attached to these tors. It is said that some Druids were dancing here on a Sunday, and making impious revelry, when Satan suddenly appeared in the midst of them and turned them into stone. We must suppose that Ragged Jack was an Archdruid - but what had Druids to do with Sunday?"

Valentine (undated)

Map - Ragged Rack

The Nine Stones - Belstone

Nine Stones, Belston

"Belstone Tor is easily climbed, and beyond it, not far from an artillery flag staff, is the stone circle known as the Nine Stones - in reality their are seventeen.  Legend asserts that they - just as the Merry Maidens near Penzance - were individuals turned into stones for dancing on Sunday but they have not yet finished their dance, for they may be seen to move every day at noon.  This may be accounted for by the effect of those

Tremulous vapours of dim noontide

which on hot summer days rise over the moor."

Cresswell 1921

Map - Nine Maidens / Stones, Dartmoor
Map - Merry Maidens, Cornwall

Cross Tree - Moretonhampstead

"On the East side of the town stands the church, with a row of picturesque seventeenth-century almshouses beyond it. Close to the gate was the Cross tree, - immortalized as the Dancing Tree by Mr. Blackmore in Christowell , - which supported a platform whereon in bygone years visitors to Moreton and others used to foot it. I regret to say that the old tree, so familiar a feature of Moretonhampstead was blown down and entirely destroyed in the great gale of September 10th, 1903.

The head of the Market Cross still remains on the base, just as it stood at the foot of the old tree, now very inadequately represented by a youthful copper beech."

Cresswell 1921

Map - Moretonhampstead

Elmore

"It has been the custom in the tithing of Motcombe, time out of mind, on the Sunday next after Holy Rood Day, in May every year, for each parish within the borough of Shaston to come down that day to Elmore, or Enmore Green, at one o'clock in the afternoon, with their minstrels, and play with games, and from one to two o'clock-one whole hour to dance. The Mayor of Shaston was to see that the Queen's Bailiff had a penny loaf, a gallon of ale, and a calf s head, with a pair, of gloves; to see the order of the dance that day, and if the dance failed any day and the bailiff had not his due, the bailiff and his men stopped the water from the four wells at Elmore which supplied the borough.

A slightly different account of this is given in Dyer's Brit. Pop. Customs, pp. 205-6"

Hope 1893

Map - Motcombe
Map - Enmore Green

The Mermaids Vengence - part 9

"...One midnight, Walter, who had been dancing and drinking for some hours, left the cottage wearied with his excesses, and although not drunk, he was much excited with- wine. His pathway lay along the edge of the cliffs, amidst bushes of furze and heath, and through several irregular, zigzag ways. There were lateral paths striking off from one side of the main path, and leading down to the sea-shore. Although it was moonlight, without being actually aware of the error, Walter wandered into one of those; and before he was awake to his mistake, he found himself on the sands. He cursed his stupidity, and, uttering a blasphemous oath, he turned to retrace his steps.

The most exquisite music which ever flowed from human ups fell on his ear; he paused to listen, and collecting his unbalanced thoughts, he discovered that it was the voice of a woman singing a melancholy dirge..." [cont.]

Hunt 1903

Nine Maidens stone circle on May the 1st

[Cog and Wheels, a local all-lady Morris team dance at the Nine Maidens stone circle at Belstone every May the 1st at dawn. Their website here.] 

Belstone and the Nine Maidens

'But one couldn't hurry on without lingering by Belstone Cleave and the sacred circle known as the Nine Maidens, who were turned to stone for dancing on Sunday, their partners also, as would appear, since there are more than nine of them still standing.'

Hope Moncrieff 1895

Moretonhampstead Dancing Tree

   
       
       
Reproduced courtesy of Francis Frith.
   

'Near the churchyard is a public park called Sentry, i.e. "Sanctuary". Between it and the churchyard are the remains of an ancient cross, and a vigorous but venerable Elm-tree [now replaced with a copper beech - witnessed as a mature tree in 2010], whose branches were formally so trimmed and disposed as to support a platform for dancers.  The musicians were perched up in the higher boughs, and dancers ascended to their leaf-embowered salon by means of a ladder.  This tree and the neighborhood are renowned in Mr. Blackmore's Christowell.'

Hope Moncrieff 1895

Belstone and the Nine Maidens

[On a guided walk today I was told of the Nine Maidens or Nine Stones on Belston Common.  The guide was from the village and said that as a child the old men had told him they used to go up there on May Day for 'ceremonies'.  When he asked what these consisted of he was told 'don' yu wory abote that, boy' - and laughed.  He took this to mean it was rude - a May Day shag at the circle!  He was in his late 50's early 60's - so these memories probably stretch back about 70 - 100 years.

The circle, of course, has more than nine stones (I think it was 16), but he linked the story to concepts of three times three, e.g. third child of the third generation "she would have to be female, of course".  He also linked it to the moon, saying that came in three phases - waxing, full and waining - presumably new dosent count because you cant see it!

The story I knew of the stones was the maidens turned to stone for dancing on the sabath.]