Winchester Morris Men

Our 2009 summer programme is now available

Walking Tour, Winchester College, 5th September 1998

The Winchester Morris Men

were formed on 11th March 1953 in the Eclipse Inn, The Square, Winchester, by, amongst others, Lionel Bacon M.D., and our dances and style of costume reflect those seen in the Cotswolds during the nineteenth century.

We dance at variety of local functions and at a number of public houses, mainly during the summer, and often travel further afield to other sides' events. Occasionally we have the pleasure of travelling abroad and in recent years have danced in France and the Netherlands.

We have also appeared in radio and television productions - our most repeated performance appears to be in the 1992 BBC television adaptation of the Agatha Christie's Miss Marple story "The Mirror Crack'd From Side to Side" which is broadcast with some regularity, especially on satellite and cable television.

Amongst our members we have a wealth of talent and experience, not all confined to the morris - see Forest Tracks for details of Geoff Jerram's latest recording, "Bedlam".

From amongst our membership we have a wide range of talents, and we run workshops and give presentations on aspects of the Morris, including the Morris Ring's Jigs Workshop, at Sutton Bonington, Nottinghamshire between 16th and 18th January 2009.

In 2003 we hosted a meeting of the Morris Ring on 5th, 6th & 7th September - for information follow the Ring Meeting link to the left.

The side's dancing in the 2008 season included dances from Bledington (Gloucestershire), Brackley, Hinton (both Northamptonshire), Bampton-in-the-Bush and Leafield (Oxfordshire), each having its own distinctive style or "tradition". We also perform figures from the North Skelton (Yorkshire) long sword dance.

Joining and Practices

Winchester Morris Men's 2008 Annual General Meeting was on Wednesday 1st October 2008 in St. Barnabas Church Hall, with practices re-commencing the following week.

Winchester Morris Men practise between the autumn and April on Wednesdays, starting at 7:45 p.m., at St. Barnabas Church Hall, Fromond Road, Weeke, Winchester SO22 6DY (OS ref: SU466310) and dance at selected venues in and around Winchester on Wednesdays and at weekends between May and September. The final practice of the 2008-2009 season is likely to be on Wednesday 29th April 2009 at St. Barnabas Church Hall.

New musicians and dancers are always welcome and no previous dancing experience is necessary - what is needed is enthusiasm and a wish to help us to maintain an ancient English tradition. Contact the Bagman for further information.

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