The
Wigan Observer for July 17th 1880 contained the following detailed
account:
"THE
ANCIENT FESTIVAL OF ABRAM CALLED THE MORRIS DANCE - A correspondent
writes: On the estate of Miss Chadwick, in Park Lane, Abram, there is a
plot of ground which has been bequeathed to the young men of Abram, for
the purpose of celebrating the above festival on the condition that the
young men celebrate the festival at least every twenty-one years, or else
the ground is lost to the young forever. Twelve years having elapsed since
the ancient festival was celebrated, a number of the young men formed
themselves together for instruction under Messrs. T Burns, W. Burns and R
Rydes, all of Abram. They assembled together on Friday morning last at the
Red Lion Inn, Dover, Abram, to celebrate the ancient festival. a few
minutes' delay was caused by the non-arrival of the queen but she made up
for it by her beautiful appearance.
She wore a dress of black velvet, trimmed with old gold satin and white
lace; her headdress was a white hat trimmed with gold lace, all from the
firm of Miss Smith and Co., Abram. The king wore black coat and trousers
and white vest, a white straw hat trimmed with Scottish plaid ribbons. The
dancers wore white vests and straw hats, and blue sashes bound with red
and white. The garland was decorated by Mrs Constantine Moore, of Abram,
with jewels and silver from friends and neighbours who lent them for the
occasion. Everything took exceedingly well, but the day turned out very
wet. The party danced at the principal places on their way through
Warrington-lane, Platt Bridge, Low Green, Hindley, the Grange, and then
crossed over into Bickershaw-lane, and danced for Mr J. A. Ackers,
Brookside; and then they proceeded to the principal places in Bickershaw
and Abram, returning to the Red Lion Inn, Dover, at about nine o'clock. On
Saturday they wended their way through Ashton, Golborne, Golborne Park,
Lowton, Plank-lane, returning to the Red Lion Inn, Dover, where a
sumptuous dinner awaited them, provided by the worthy host and hostess,
Mr. and Mrs. Hart. After partaking of the good things provided, the tables
were cleared and dancing resumed until close on eleven o'clock, when they
returned to their homes not a bit the worse for their hard day's dancing.
It had been decided that after expenses are paid the dancers will make a
donation of the surplus to the Wigan Infirmary."
Further details are to be found in
John Leyland's diary entry for July 9th 1880:
"Received
a note this morning from the Abram Morris Dancers saying that they
intended to visit the Grange in the forenoon. They came, but not until
afternoon. A band of music led them up and they ranged themselves in front
of the house. The dance they performed was quiet and graceful, and they
went through it exceedingly well. In Park Lane, Abram a small square of
land has belonged from time immemorial to the younger men of the Township
for the use of Morris Dancing, and a tradition exists that if the custom
be not celebrated once in 21 years, their right in the land ceases. -
Accordingly, every now and then the custom is revived, and eleven years
have passed since it was last kept up - Once only, many years ago I saw it
and was therefore pleased to be a spectator again."
and
he published the following account in "The Memorials of Abram"
in 1881.
"One
of these days, the dancers visited the writer's residence, and enabled him
to observe the manner in which it was conducted, which was said to be in
strict conformity with traditional usage. On the day in question, they
marched in procession to the front of the Grange, preceded by a Band of
Music, and, on arriving, ranged themselves in a circle, the musicians
falling to one side. The dancers were young men of about twenty years of
age, fourteen in number, and were dressed in dark trousers, white tunics,
with blue sashes edged with pink, worn crossways, and fastened by a
rosette of the same colours. Low-crowned straw hats were their headgear.
Besides the dancers there were a King and Queen, a jester, and a
personator of Robin Hood. When the circle was formed the King and Queen
passed to the centre, bearing a pole six or seven feet long, to represent
the ancient May Pole. The top of the pole was pear-shaped and decorated
with ribbons, and from it were suspended Teapots and Cream-jug, apparently
of silver. The music then struck up a slow and measured air, and the
dancers commenced a series of quiet graceful evolutions. Each dancer
carried in either hand a white handkerchief, which at intervals of the
dance, and at certain strains of the music, he threw round. Altogether it
was a curious and picturesque sight."
