Our History
Morris dancing has been a part of Malmesbury life since at least 1641 and it has never been a quiet affair!
'It was the custom in Long Newnton, Wiltshire of marking Trinity Sunday & commemorating the granting of a common in Saxon times by having a maid of the town drape a garland of flowers around the neck of a bachelor from another parish while claiming a monetary payment and granting three kisses. In June 1641 Long Newnton men carrying the garland were met by a gang of about 80 men from nearby Malmesbury, led by one John Browne “with a hobby-horse and bells on his legs” and accompanied by bells & drums. “Win it and wear it” challenged one of the Malmesbury morris men, “come three score of you, you are but boies to we.” A bloody melee ensued. Magistrates termed it "an unlawful assembly" and six months later were still proceeding against some for actions of 'riot & battery'.
Unfortunately, the passion of the local dancers recorded in this historic scene does not seem to have survived the industrial revolution, and the tradition of Morris dancing in Malmesbury almost died out….
'It was the custom in Long Newnton, Wiltshire of marking Trinity Sunday & commemorating the granting of a common in Saxon times by having a maid of the town drape a garland of flowers around the neck of a bachelor from another parish while claiming a monetary payment and granting three kisses. In June 1641 Long Newnton men carrying the garland were met by a gang of about 80 men from nearby Malmesbury, led by one John Browne “with a hobby-horse and bells on his legs” and accompanied by bells & drums. “Win it and wear it” challenged one of the Malmesbury morris men, “come three score of you, you are but boies to we.” A bloody melee ensued. Magistrates termed it "an unlawful assembly" and six months later were still proceeding against some for actions of 'riot & battery'.
Unfortunately, the passion of the local dancers recorded in this historic scene does not seem to have survived the industrial revolution, and the tradition of Morris dancing in Malmesbury almost died out….
But all that changed in the summer of 2004 with the formation of Malmesbury Mixed Morris, changing their name to Malmesbury Morris in 2005.
(arguably less of a gang, but still accompanied by bells and drums!)
(arguably less of a gang, but still accompanied by bells and drums!)
Our Kit
After many dance outs and performances, by 2023 our kit was beginning to have seen better days. With waistcoats fraying and skirts falling down, action was needed before an embarrassing incident happened!
We applied to local bodies for grant funding to pay for a refresh. We were amazed and very grateful for the local support we received from Malmesbury Carnival Committee, the Warden and Freeman of Malmesbury, the Malmesbury Area Board, the Dyson Foundation and the Jack Lane Trust.
We sourced a local independent seamstress to redesign and make new kit for us based on the old style and utilising the red, gold, black and white colours of the Malmesbury crest. The waistcoat includes a roundel badge on the back, featuring a Jackdaw, the recognised bird of Malmesbury, to make our identity more prominent.
We applied to local bodies for grant funding to pay for a refresh. We were amazed and very grateful for the local support we received from Malmesbury Carnival Committee, the Warden and Freeman of Malmesbury, the Malmesbury Area Board, the Dyson Foundation and the Jack Lane Trust.
We sourced a local independent seamstress to redesign and make new kit for us based on the old style and utilising the red, gold, black and white colours of the Malmesbury crest. The waistcoat includes a roundel badge on the back, featuring a Jackdaw, the recognised bird of Malmesbury, to make our identity more prominent.
