The following report appeared in Liverpool Mail 20 July 1850
MORRIS DANCERS – On Monday last, St. Swithin’s Day, there was a Morris Dance through the whole village of Abram. The dancers were young unmarried men, who reside within the township, and they assembled together at a plot of land bequeathed to them some hundred years ago, by an ardent admirer of this rural sport, on condition that a Morris Dance should be held at least every twenty-one years.
—Wigan Times
The full article, from which the above seems to have been extracted for syndication, appeared in the Wigan Times on Friday July 19th 1850
MORRIS DANCE AT ABRAM.—On Monday last, St. Swithin’s Day, there was a Morris dance through the whole of the village of Abram. Thu dancers were young unmarried men, who reside within the township, and they assembled together at a plot of land bequeathed to them some hundred years ago, by an ardent admirer of this rural sport, on condition that a Morris dance should be held at least every twenty-one years. The land is large enough to build two moderately- sized houses upon it. From this place they proceeded in a circuitous route through the village, calling at every house where there was a probability of obtaining “the needful." The form of dance will be known to many of our aged readers; but to few only of those whose “heads are unmellowed," yet whose “judgment is ripe." And it may be that our venerable patrons, though fully conversant with the form of dance, and its antiquity, are still unaware of its origin. It will be our duty then to devote a short space to the origin of the Morris-dance — the various dresses, &c., and the different modes in which this novel sport has been performed at various periods since the time from which we can trace any knowledge of it. The term Morris-dance is derived from Moorish or Morisco‑dance, and originated with the Moors in Spain, some eight or nine hundred years ago; and when brought into England, which is supposed by some writers to have been about the middle of the 14th century, in the reign of Edward III. when John of Gaunt returned from Spain, was danced principally at May-games, puppet-shows, &c. Other writers suppose wo have borrowed it from France or the Low Countries. At most of the popular festivals during the reigns of Henry the 7th and 8th the Morris dance was a very conspicuous feature: it formed a portion of the numerous May games then so very popular in England, especially in those of Robin Hood, and the pageant of the Lord of Misrule. There were in the ancient game of morris dance the personations of Robin Hood. Little John, Friar Tuck, Maid Marian, the fool, the piper, besides other dancers variously decorated and habited, and a damsel who was called the Queen or Lady of the May. Sometime afterwards there were added to the dance or game a draggon and a hobby horse; but in the reign of Henry VIII. there appears to have been an entire change in the characters. At this time they wore dressed in silver paper and gilt leather, and sometimes in white and spangled fustian coats. Attached, or sewn to their garters, were bells to the number of 20 or 30, arranged so as to produce
"Sounds and sweet airs which
give delight, and hurt not."
And purses also were stuck in their girdles. Afterwards there was an addition of swords or staves, which they clashed at a particular part of the dance. For these swords or staves a white pocket handkerchief is now substituted, each dancer being provided with two clean ones, which they strike against each other as we might suppose the ancient morris dancers did their staves or swords. It does not clearly appear how or at what time the change of dress and character has been made, for now we have neither Robin Hood, Little John, Friar Tuck, or Maid Marian. We still retain the fool and the piper, the latter being improved into a band. We have also, in our modern dance, a Queen or Belle, as she is now called, who has a protector, carrying a curiously devised garland, which, on the commencement of the dance, he presents to her, whilst the young men proceed with their dancing. At the conclusion they form a ring round the blushing maiden, each one throwing his pocket-handkerchief in the air, as if honoring and congratulating her Majesty. The fool or merryman performs nearly the same duties as all that class of humourists do, with the addition of a wooden ladle, the rim of which he chalks, and then transcribes the circle to the backs of all who are within his reach. The dress of the morris dancer is now changed from the gilt leather and silver paper, or coat of white and spangled fustian, to a clean white linen shirt —no coat— and trousers ad libitum- Over the whole of the body, are ribbons of various colours, and in some visible place is placed, as being or should be, a watch. The watch appears to have been substituted for the purse which the ancient morris dancers had stuck in their girdles. We do not read of a garland being used in the ancient morris dance; it has probably been introduced at no very distant period — perhaps two hundred years ago. The garland, now, appears to be considered the most important part of the game, for it certainly is made with go little pains or trouble. The skeleton of it is a piece of wood about seven feet long, round the top of which, and suspended therefrom, are two other pieces which hang down about three feet, and almost form the appearance of an umbrella. These are decorated with 20 or 30 watches, as many silver teaspoons, and numerous ribbons of various colours, which give a very pleasing contrast with the watches and spoons. At the top are placed two brass eagles, and upon them is a beautiful silver goblet. Besides this garland they carried another, similar in its construction, made of evergreens. —Morris dances are "few and far between:” eighteen years have intervened between this and the last; the same number of years between that and the previous dance; and before then there was no dance for twenty years. There are many living who remember the dance 56 years ago, and whose fathers told them that before that time they were held almost annually. The prima præceptor of the present dance, Mr. George Livesey, to whom too much praise cannot be awarded for his exertions and skill in bringing the performances to such perfection, has himself attended three dances. —We remember, at the last morris dance, a question arose as to the title of the young men of Abram to the plot of land mentioned before, but it was overruled by the attempted claimant paying several pounds as compensation for felling trees which grew upon the land. We do not find any trace to a good title to it but, in the absence of other claimants, we suppose custom gives them just claim. — The name of the Belle or Queen, is Charity Cundley, a very modest and pretty girl, and her protector on the occasion was Robert Fort, a young man of pleasing appearance. Abraham Ackers, Esq., of Bickershaw Hall, and A. Strachan, Esq., of Brookside House were kind enough to supply them with most of the materials for the garlands.—During the whole of the day, especially towards evening, hundreds of people, both old and young, of both sexes, followed the dancers; and about half-past nine, the dancers and their friends sat down at the Buck’s Head, Abram, where the Hostess, Mrs. John Dean, had prepared some excellent potatoe pie, in the making of which she is proverbial as conducing to the palates of those who patronize her. We were much pleased to observe that the men, generally, were sober, and conducted themselves with strict propriety and quietness. For two or three days previously, we understand, a spurious company of morris dancers have been out, but with little success.