Abbots Bromley Horn Dancers at Blithfield Hall

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Date:September 1955

Description:The horn dance is an annual event which takes place on the first Monday after the first Sunday after the 4th of September. The tradition is believed to date back to 1226 when it was part of a three day event celebrating St. Bartholomew's Day (24th August), although the earliest documentary evidence is Robert Plot's description of 1686.

There are usually 11 performers. Six dancers dressed in green jackets, breeches and green stockings, three carrying white painted reindeer horns, the other three, black horns. In addition there are the Fool, the Hobby-horse, Maid Marion, a cross-bow bearer (often a small boy), and a melodeon player.


Timeline

The timeline shows resources around this location over a number of years.

1630s
Men's cap
Men's cap

Red silk embroidered undress cap with gold and silver threadwork. Formed from gores ...

1830s
Day Dress, 1830s
Day Dress, 1830s

This cotton dress has a printed floral design of sprigs and roses. The rose ...

1920s
Blithfield Hall, south front
Blithfield Hall, south front

The south front of Blithfield Hall. Blithfield Hall, the home of the Bagot family ...

1950s
Blithfield Hall
Blithfield Hall

The entrance drive and south front of Blithfield Hall, with the stable block to ...

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Image courtesy of: Mrs R Wearing

Donor ref:P2019.012.0002 (37/40006)

Source: Staffordshire Museum Service

Copyright information: Copyrights to all resources are retained by the individual rights holders. They have kindly made their collections available for non-commercial private study & educational use. Re-distribution of resources in any form is only permitted subject to strict adherence to the usage guidelines.