Malmesbury Morris are a modern Morris dancing side based around the ancient borough of Malmesbury, Wiltshire. Formed in 2004, the new side have revived a Malmesbury tradition dating back at least 350 years. In September 2007 they took part in the successful attempt to set a World Record for the largest performance of a Morris dance in Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire organised by Illmington Morris. This record has been approved and is recorded b...
More
Malmesbury Morris are a modern Morris dancing side based around the ancient borough of Malmesbury, Wiltshire. Formed in 2004, the new side have revived a Malmesbury tradition dating back at least 350 years. In September 2007 they took part in the successful attempt to set a World Record for the largest performance of a Morris dance in Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire organised by Illmington Morris. This record has been approved and is recorded by Guinness World Records.
Morris dancing in Malmesbury can be traced back to the mid-17th century when a brawl between Morris dancers from the borough and celebrants from the nearby village of Long Newnton clashed on Trinity Sunday in 1641. By the start of the 20th century the tradition seems to have died out, but in the summer of 2004 it was revived through the efforts of local residents Rose Darlington and Maggie Dyson.
No record has been discovered recording the original Malmesbury dances so in 2007 Torquil McInnes of the nearby Chippenham...
Less
