The History of Wickham Morris

Wickham Morris first performed in 1980 and have gone from strength to strength in recent years. Since we invited the ladies to dance with us and became a mixed side, we have enjoyed performing in festivals at Winchester, Sidmouth, Isle of Wight, Chippenham, Rochester and Swanage and made foreign tours to Villers sur Mer and Maneglise, the twin towns of Wickham and Swanmore, and to the International Festival at Bray in Ireland. We have danced in the London Millennium Parade in front of the Queen, in the grand Easter parade at Maastricht and at the Millennium Dome.

We dance in the Cotswold and Border styles. The Cotswold dances come from the villages of Stanton Harcourt, Bampton and Adderbury, plus others that we have invented in similar styles. The Cotswold dance style is with hankies and/or sticks and usually in a 6 man set. The Border dances are originating from the villages on the England-Wales border. These dances are more wild and often have furious exciting sticking sequences. We have gradually developed a unique Wickham Style, with our own dances and a laid back happy go lucky 'stance', best viewed over an emptying ale barrel.

Our main dancing circuit from May to September encompasses the pubs and fetes along the Meon Valley, but we have entertained, too, at social dances, barn dances, opening ceremonies and weddings, in the process raising funds for our charities. If anyone would like to book us, then please call our Baggie, see contacts page for details. We meet every Thursday and new members are welcome to contact the Squire.

The History of Morris Dancing

Our ex-squire, Dennis Wheeler, has penned two separate histories of the tradition which can be found from the following links. The one is reasonably substantial and attempts to be accurate, and the other is lighthearted.

Below is the roll of honour of the past officers of the side (as best we can remember!).