The History of Morris in Salisbury
“That St Christopher’s Self, all my readers may see when he comes thro’ Close Gate, to Hold High Justice” – Christopher the Giant with Morris Dancers 1838
The City of Salisbury has one of the oldest documented references to Morris Dancing, dating back to 1564. The records of the Tailors Guild show expenditure for Morris costumes “at thys assembly was receyuyd for the puttynge owt of the Morrys Cots (Coats) iii s iv d and yt ys agreyd that Gregory Clerke shall have the kepynge of the five morrys-cots, with xxti dosyn Myllan-bells, for the space of xii yere.”
At this time, 3 shillings and four pence (payable per annum) was a considerable sum of money. In addition, this shows that at this time there were only five dancers. Morris dancing traditionally accompanied the Salisbury Giant, Christopher, and the tourney hobbyhorse, Hob-Nob, which were also owned by the Tailors Guild. In 1611 the warden of the Tailors Company was committed to prison for patronising the morris dancers on a Sunday. Of further interest is a reference in the Guild records for 1633: “At this assemblie a fine of five shillings of current English money is imposed and sett vpon pofer Smith one of the bretheren of this companye for deriding and scoffinge Augustine Creed and Thomas Jervis, Wardens of this Companye, by vteringe theis words following, vitz ‚¬“Praie make an order that eury one of this companye may wear belles on their leggs.”
It would appear to be one of the first instances of anti-morris sentiment. Something that would become all too common in future Puritan times. In 1709 an inventory showed the tailors guild to possess the Gyant and what belongs to him, the Hobby Horse and his accoutrements, and ffive Suits of Clothes for Maurice daunsers.
References to morris dancing continue sporadically through the Guild records until the Guild closed in 1869 and the Giant and Hob-Nob passed to Salisbury Corporation.
- 1856 Morris dancers accompany Giant and Hob-Nob on a peace parade following the end of The Crimean war.
- 1863 a parade as above to celebrate the wedding of The Prince of Wales.
- 1887 Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria was celebrated by parade involving great pomp and pageantry
- 1893 wedding of The Duke of York. Morris dancers wore gold floral jackets, black and white striped knee breeches.
- 1897 Queen Victoria Diamond jubilee. Three morris men wore dark jackets, knee breeches, and large bush hats. The three women wore light dresses, white petticoats, and large bonnets with flowers around the brim.
- 1902 a rather muted procession of Giant, Hob-Nob and six morris dancers to celebrate King Edward VII’s Coronation, (it was muted as the coronation had been postponed for six months because of the King’s appendicitis).
The last recorded appearance of a side was at the time of King George’s Coronation in 1911, although a side did attempt to keep the tradition alive for the Children’s Peace pageant in 1919.
The Salisbury Giant and Hob-Nob
Both the Salisbury Giant and Hob-Nob are pageant figures of the Salisbury guild of Merchant Tailors, who received their charter in 1447. The Giant is first recorded in 1496 when led by the Mayor and Corporation, they went in procession to meet King Henry VII and his Queen, who were staying at nearby Clarendon Palace. The Salisbury Giant and Hob-Nob are unique survivors, as such figures were condemned as idolatrous at the time of the Reformation, and others were destroyed. Over the centuries the Giant’s appearance has been altered numerous times with refurbishment of his garments and hat.
The Giant became an important figure in all celebrations, particularly St John the Baptist day, 24th June, Midsummer Day. St John being the patron saint of tailors.St Osmund Day 16th July, St Osmond being the patron of Salisbury, and whose body lies entombed in the cathedral. Also St Peters Day 1st August.
On the outings the Giant, was accompanied by Hob-Nob, a beadle and two whifflers bearing mace, sword, and lantern, the Morris dancers, three black boys and the devil. All were dressed in clothes provided by the Taylors Guild. All would process through the City streets accompanied by great crowds. While the bearers of the giant refreshed themselves in a local hostelry, the Morris dancers became the centre of attraction, dancing to traditional tunes, three dressed as men in streamers and bells, and three as women, and one as a fool.All the way two flute players provided the dance tunes, which were half drowned out out by the heavy thud of a bass drum representing the Giant footsteps.All the while Hob-Nob with his fearful black appearance, rushed about, his snapping jaws lined with hob-nail teeth, biting chasing apprentices and young girls alike into the water channels which lined Salisbury streets.
From 1746 onwards all the Giant’s outings were on days of national rejoicing.
By Proclamation to celebrate the final defeat of the 1745 rebellion at Culloden, a procession took place from the Market Square to the Cathedral. The Giant was a massive 25 feet tall. He paraded with Hob-Nob and both were encircled by Morris dancers.
In 1784 the country celebrates peace after the American war of Independence and the Giant becomes known as ‘St Christopher’ for the first time. The Giants attendants, Hob-Nob and the Morris dancers were again parading.
In 1869 Christopher the giant and Hob-Nob were placed in the care of Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum and were purchased for the museum in 1873 for £1.10s.0d (£1.50p) Today both original figures are retired and on permanent display in the Museum.
In recent times a contemporary Christopher the Giant and Hob-Nob together with Morris dancers have taken part in celebrations of St George Day. In 1988 Salisbury Civic Society and the City Charter Trustees revived a an annual service of commemoration and rededication followed by a procession to the Market Square for Riding the Jorge ceremony. A re-enactment of a middle age pageant, when St George valiantly fought and killed the dragon. For several years Salisbury has celebrated St Georges Day and Christopher has made an appearance much to the delight of the crowds. Sarum Morris have their own replica Hob-Nob who often accompanies Sarum Morris when they dance at special events
For further information about Salisbury Giant see the Salisbury Museum publication ‘The Giant and Hob-Nob’ by Hugh Short.
History of Morris Dancing
No one knows for certain the origins of Morris Dancing. It may well have its roots in rites celebrating fertility and the coming of spring. Dancers would blacken their faces with soot so they would not be recognised by the local priest, and would resemble “Moors”. This gave rise to “Moorish Men” or “Moorish dauncers” and hence to Morris.
Another train of thought suggests the dancing came from Spain and was brought back by John of Gaunt, second son of Edward III around 1387, when his army returned from the Spanish wars. The first record of a Morusk dance is at Lanherne Cornwall in 1468. At Betley in Staffordshire in an old house there is a painted glass window dating from 1470. It shows a Morris side with their musician, a fool, hobby horse, and two Robin Hood characters, Maid Marian and Friar Tuck. In the middle is a Maypole.
Over time the dances were assimilated by the established church, and by the 1500s Morris was being performed for Easter, Whitsuntide, and saint’s days. In fact Morris dancing became so much an accepted institution that medieval churchwarden’s accounts show that accessories were provided by parish funds. St Lawrence Church Reading, accounts show “Moreys Dawncers” perfomed on Dedication Day 1513 and were given 3d for ale. In 1509 “six peyre of shone for Mors daunsers”. In 1530 12d was paid for “a grosse of bells for the Morece dawnsers” . At St Thomas Sarum 1557, they decorated “the endes of the banners with bells” the Church procession jingled forth like the Morris. William Shakespeare includes Morris in both Midsummer Nights Dream and Henry VI .
| In 1599 an out of work actor William Kemp, for a wager danced from London to Norwich. After completing the task, Kemp wrote an account of his marathon dance “The Nine Daies Wonder”. The picture on the left shows a bearded Kemp dancing on his way to Norwich, from the title page of ‘Kemps Nine Daies Wonder’ of 1600 (Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington DC). The picture below is a drawing dated 1808 showing Morris dancers with a Hob Horse. Through the 17th and 18th centuries under Puritan influence Morris declined. With the rise of industrial England came the increasing drift of country population into towns. Thankfully it still was maintained in certain parts of the countryside. |
The picture above shows Morris Men from Bucknell in Oxfordshire in 1875. By chance on Boxing Day 1899, Cecil Sharp whilst visiting relations in Oxford saw and heard, for the first time Morris dancing as performed by Headingtom Quarry Morris Men. It inspired Sharp to set about collecting dances and songs from all over England in the following years. Cecil Sharp is pictured below with his Morris Dancers.
Sarum Morris 