Stories of the 17th century Ilmington morris

Chandler tells us, without giving a source, of an oral story that during the 17th century there was a Morris dance team from the village of Ilmington which performed at the famous Dover’s Games,

“To the accompaniment of the old tabor and pipe they danced for a week to the delight of all, their favourite pieces being ‘Shepherd’s Hey, and Heigh-ho to the Cotswolds.” [1]

In 1636 we read that the old tabor and pipe were used for Morris dancing at Dover’s Hill games and sports and Ilmington.

Bennett, 1909 [2]

Sir,—ln the sixteenth century we read of Morris Dancing at Dover’s Hill sports, where was erected a flag on a pole and upon it the words “Heigh for the Cotswold.” The Morris Dancers performed round the flag, while men played the tabor and pipe, and it says that these dancers hailed from Ilmington, and from that time dancing has been carried on here

Bennett, 1912 [3]

In two of Sam Bennett’s letters to the local newspaper it is possible to gain an idea of the source of this oral story. This gives two bits of information that relate to printed sources;

Firstly the year 1636 is when “Annalia Dubrensia”, a set of poems about the Dover’s Hill games, was published by Michael Drayton.[4]

Secondly the phrase “flag on a pole and upon if the words ‘Heigh for the Cotswold’” which comes from the book “Poly-Olbion” published in 1612 by Michael Drayton.[5]

It seems unlikely that Sam Bennett has access to both these publications, more probable that Sam Bennett, or another contact, read the article “The Cotswold Games” which was published in many local newspaper during 1882 as part of a series under the title “Glimpses of Olden England” by Broadbent Trowsdale,

In 1636, a volume, now very rare, was published, composed of commendatory verses on the exploits of Cotswold. Some of the most eminent poets of the early part of the seventeenth century contributed to the work, which was entitled Annatiu Dubrensia.

Drayton in his vast topographical poem ‘Poly Olbion,’ […] The fancy of the poet pictures the rustics dancing hand in hand to this music of the pipe and tabor about a flag staff erected on the highest hill—the flag inscribed Heigh for Costwold.

Trowsdale, 1882 [6]

No connection is made to morris in either Trowsdale’s article or the original publications, so this connection might have been made by Sam Bennett from the “pipe and tabor” reference.

Footnotes

  1. Chandler, Keith (1985). The Archival Morris Photographs, 3: The Original Ilmington Morris Dancers’, Ilmington, Warwickshire, circa 1908. English Dance and Song XLVII, 1 pages 8-10.
  2. Bennett, Samual (1909). The old folk song and dancing competitions at Straford. Stratford-upon-Avon Herald; 14 May 1909, page 8.
  3. Bennett, Samual (1912). The original Ilmington Morris dancers. Stratford-upon-Avon Herald; 23 August 1912, page 2.
  4. Drayton, Michael (1636). Annalia Dubrensia. Upon the yeerely celebration of Mr. Robert Dovers Olimpick Games upon Cotswold-Hills. London.
  5. Drayton, Michael (1612). Poly-Olbion. London, Humphrey Lownes.
  6. Trowsdale, T. Broadbent (1882). The Cotswold games. North Devon Journal, p.6. Glimpses of Olden England. Sketches of Phases in the lives of our forefathers.