May 8th. A History of Morris Dancing

Feature Photo -Dr. Matthew Simons

A History of Morris Dancing

The May meeting of Peterborough Local History Society is on Thursday 8th, at 7.30pm, at St Andrew’s United Reformed Church, Ledbury Road, Netherton, Peterborough PE3 9RF .

The speaker for the evening will be Dr Matthew Simons, who will be speaking on “A history of morris dancing”. The evening will also include a demonstration by Peterborough Morris.

Heralded by the sound of bells and the waving of handkerchiefs, morris dancing is immediately recognisable yet often misunderstood.  Far from being the survival of a pagan fertility cult, the morris in England has a recorded history spanning almost six centuries.  During that time, it has been performed at royal courts and aristocratic households, outside alehouses and inside theatres.  Though once actively supported by churches across the country, it was later suppressed and eventually banned altogether.  As the closest thing that England has to a national dance, the history of morris dancing provides a commentary on the changing fashions and culture of English society at large.  This talk will provide an overview of its history from the mid-fifteenth century to the present day with demonstrations by Peterborough Morris.

Dr. Matthew Simons is a history teacher and independent researcher based in Peterborough.  He has published on the history of the folk revival in the early twentieth century and has made appearances on both television and radio.  Matthew is also Foreman (instructor) for Peterborough Morris, a side formed in 1979 to perform dances in the ‘Cotswolds’ style.

For more information on Peterborough Morris, visit their website: https://www.peterboroughmorris.co.uk

If you know of anyone who may be interested to attend the meeting, please feel free to extend an invitation. Visitors are always welcome to attend our meetings, for a fee of just £3.