The earliest reference to the horn dance is in the natural history of staffordshire at abbots, or now rather pagets bromley, they had also, within memory, a sort of sport, which they celebrated at christmas on newyear and twelftday calld the hobbyhorse dance, from a person that carryed the image of a horse between his legs, made. The modern version of the dance involves reindeer antlers, a hobby horse, maid marian, and a fool. One part of many winter revels performances that captures the mystery of midwinter celebration is the abbots bromley horn dance, an ageold procession of 10 figures, still done each september in abbots bromley in staffordshire, england. Abbots bromley first appears in written history in 942 as a manor called bromleighe when it was in the possession of wulfsige the black. The horn dance outside the bagot arms on 11 september. We will try to keep this up to date with as much info as. Her first book, make merry in step and song, is a collection of the english folk dances, songs, and. The origins of the abbots bromley horn dance are hazy and in trying to make sense of this centuriesold tradition, the phrase fertility ritual often crops up. The history of the village can be traced back to before the norman conquest 1066ad through references to abbots bromley in three preconquest charters for staffordshire. The abbots bromley horn dance is an english folk dance whose origins date back to the middle ages and is believed to be the oldest folk dance in britain skip to main content the guardian back to. Yankee doodle alternate title abbots bromley horn dance yankee doodle contributor names british broadcasting corporation recordist abbots bromley.
Plot shifted his focus towards archaeology in the 1686 publication of his second book, the natural history of staffordshire, but misinterpreted roman remains as saxon. Together with the horn dance of abbots bromley about the publisher forgotten books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most. Abbots bromley horn dance with images morris dancing.
The abbots bromley horn dance is an english folk dance dating back to the middle ages. The fair in which the dance was held was first mentioned in 1226, and the dance itself was described in detail by dr robert plot in 1686. Buy sword dances of northern england together with the horn dance of abbots bromley book online at best prices in india on. The annual horn dance at abbots bromley was performed originally at berthelmy fair in august 1226 which was to celebrate st. The sword dances of northern england together with the horn dance of abbots bromley sharp, cecil j. Photographs of abbots bromley, staffordshire, england. This hardback book of 96 pages including photographs and line drawings traces the history of the village throughout the last millennium with general background information complemented by chapters on specific subjects such as. The horn dance, so called because the dancers carry deers antlers, was first performed at barthelmy fair in the staffordshire village of abbots bromley in 1226, and despite the obscurity of the. Provided to youtube by the orchard enterprises abbots bromley horn dance winterfylleth one and all, together, for home. Buy the sword dances of northern england, together with.
The abbots bromley horn dance has been added to 2 tune sets. Memories of the horn dance, me and the barmaids dressed as serving wenches, also we had barbques in the garden and folk groups. Photos, maps, personal memories and local books of abbots bromley. You step out to investigate and suddenly twelve figures in brightlycoloured costumes are bearing down on you. Abbots bromley horn dance wikimili, the free encyclopedia. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Pick up the free abbots bromley map if you can which also has approximate timings and history of the village etc we got ours from the church. We are proud to be a part of this and would like to share our heritage. The charter of king aethelred granting lands to wulfric in 996 gives details of the boundaries of the estate, which on three sides, are recognisable. Robert plot, in his natural history of staffordshire, 1686, p. Such an ancient origin for the dance has been doubted by some folklorists, who point out that. Sword dances of northern england together with the horn dance of abbots bromley book. The sword dances of northern england, together with the.
Abbots bromley is a small, old village in the heart of staffordshire, england. There are some curious circumstances attached to abbots bromley, which derived its name. The horn dance outside the bagot arms on 11 september 2006 the original medieval hobby horse, photographed in the mid1970s. The title of this secret adventures of jules verne fan publication is the horn dance of abbots bromley in 2002 from of dreams and schemes press and is 89 pages long. I was pleased to help launch the stamp with horn dancers from abbots bromley. Horn dance article about horn dance by the free dictionary. The sword dances of northern england together with the. This is the facebook page for the official horn dance of abbots bromley. The dance takes place annually in abbot s bromley, in staffordshireand involves reindeer antlers, a hobby horse, maid marian. The horn dance, so called because the dancers carry deers antlers, was first performed at barthelmy fair in the staffordshire village of abbots bromley. The earliest reference in writing appeared in 1686, when dr. Staffordshire village holds britains oldest folk dance in pictures. Annes tune, bobby shafto and her golden hair was hanging down her back william adeys tune cock of the north the abbots bromley horn dance is an ancient tradition of the village of abbots bromley, staffordshire, england, that takes place on wakes monday, the first monday after the first sunday after the 4th of september. Books about abbots bromley area browse 26 photo books on abbots bromley and the surrounding area.
Theres plenty of parking in the village if you arrive early and if you want to drive to the outlying venues just follow the convoy youll squeeze in. Articles and books in the vaughan williams memorial library are. The sword dances of northern england, together with the horn dance of abbots bromley book. The abbots bromley horn dance oxfam gb oxfams online. The sword dances of northern england together with the horn dance of abbots bromley. The abbots bromley horn dance is the oldest traditional dance in all of england. King edmunds charter of 942 granted lands including bromley to wulfsige the black. Of course theyre describing the abbots bromley horn dance, a ritual moment that has become closely identified with our celebration of the winter solstice.
Here is a snippet about the dance from a nineteenth century journal. The television show is part costume drama and part spy show and part science fiction. The dance dates back to anglosaxon times and commemorates the granting of hunting rights to the villagers in needwood forest, but it also is said to compose elements of an ancient fertility dance i. The dance takes place each year in abbots bromley, a village in staffordshire, england.
The abbots bromley horn dance is an english folk dance whose origins date back to the middle ages and is believed to be the oldest folk. For those who may not know, the dance is a nearmagical event held every year on what is termed wakes monday, which follows the first sunday or wakes sunday after september 4. He writes about a wide range of unsolved mysteries, including bigfoot, ufos, the loch ness monster, alien encounters, and government conspiracies. At least one historian of the dance has identified them with an 11th century monk named wulfric, counselor to king ethelred and founder of a benedictine abbey on whose land the village was. Robert plot, in a natural history of staffordshire, described a dance he called the hobby horse dance, involving six sets of caribou horns and a hobby horse.
A short but detailed account of an english folk ritual dating back to the middle ages. Together with the horn dance of abbots bromley classic reprint cecil j. Today is the traditional day for the horn dance in abbots bromley in. It is always performed by members of the same family, who dance around the village all day carrying stag antlers. In that longstanding local ritual, six men carry sets of caribou horns, followed by a hobby horse, a man dressed as a woman, a boy with a bow and arrow, and a fool who periodically dings a small triangle. Abbot s bromley horn dance click on the tune title to see or modify abbot s bromley horn dance s annotations. The dating is linked to the old custom, now mostly defunct, of celebrating wakes week at various times over the summer in different villages in england, especially in the north. The mysterious dance of the horns mysterious universe.
The dance consists of a line of dancers in walking gait, weaving into repeated serpentine and facing figures, punctuated by light clashes of. Staffordshire village holds britains oldest folk dance. Swns and one of them is our beloved abbots bromley horn dance. The dance takes place each year in abbots bromley, a village in staffordshire, england the modern version of the dance. Abbots bromley horn dance, from yuletide treasures, arranged by friou and lane duration. It has since been replaced by a more realistic carving. Ancient fertility dance involving men and reindeer antlers. Tags abbots bromley hobby horse horn dance nick redfern works full time as a writer, lecturer, and journalist. Buy the sword dances of northern england, together with the horn dance of abbots bromley book online at best prices in india on.
Mar 14, 2016 this pin was discovered by little bare. Abbots bromley photos, maps, books, memories francis frith. In 2003 this was the day following my visit 8 september. The charter of king aethelred granting lands to wulfric in 996 gives details of the boundaries of the estate, which on three sides, are recognisable as the present day parish boundary pur brook, river blithe and tad brook. Abbots bromley is known for its annual horn dance, an english folk dance dating back to the middle ages. Abbots bromley in the picturesque county of staffordshire is an ancient village. Apparently, one of the most potent elements of the dance is coming into contact with the pigs bladder on a stick, wielded by the fool 1.
The abbots bromley horn dance antiquity cambridge core. Later it was owned by wulfric spot, earl of mercia, who bequeathed it in 1004 to burton abbey when it became known as bromley abbatis. Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet. The doomsday book, a general survey, and valuation of the land and. Abbots bromley horn dance traditional tune archive. Abbots bromley is mentioned in the domesday book as brunlege. He also describes a double sunset viewable from leek, the abbots bromley horn dance, and, for the first time, the polish swan, a pale morph of the mute swan. At abbots, or now rather pagets bromley, they had also within memory, a sort of sport, which they celebrated at christmas on newyear and twelftday. The dance takes place on wakes monday, the day following wakes sunday, which is. The ancient horn dance, believed by many to have originated in norman times or before, is performed at abbots bromley, a small village in staffordshire, england. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most definitive collection ever assembled. A strange and mysterious ritual that continues to thrive. Sword dances of northern england together with the horn. Adventures of jules verne gen fanzine horn dance of abbots.
Today is the traditional day for the horn dance in abbots bromley in staffordshire. If the link is red you can create them using the form provided. The abbots bromley horn dance is a unique english folk dance performed in the. The abbots bromley horn dance volume 7 issue 26 violet alford.
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