We are a Cotswold Morris side from Holt, Wiltshire (near to Bath, Trowbridge, Chippenham, Bradford-on-Avon and Melksham). We started dancing in 1989. We perform a broad mix of Cotswold Morris styles, though many of our dances are based on a liberal interpretation of the Fieldtown morris tradition. We have also borrowed generously from other Cotswold Morris sides.
Holt Morris are always looking to recruit new members, dancers and musicians from the surrounding area. We were formed as a Men’s side, but are transitioning into a mixed side and have already welcomed two lady members. We are pleased to welcome ANYONE who wants to give Morris dancing a try, get some good exercise, join our social activities and, yes, enjoy the odd drink while we are at it…
So if you are interested, get in touch via our contact page and we’ll help you with details of our practices.
IN 1992, Angel Morris − at the time a powerful, and for us as fledgling Holt Morris, a potent, inspirational, force in the great Morris pantheon − were celebrating their 20th Anniversary with a weekend of dance in London to which we were invited.
THE LATEST ADDITION to our YouTube Channel is a short video of the Holt Morris musicians playing ‘Speed The Plough’ at The Three Magpies, Seend.
IT IS TRADITIONAL for the first note of a Morris tune to coincide with the first drop of rain, but the watery end of our fabulous July heatwave waited until the last note of our Saturday spot with the Widders – a very friendly border side from Chepstow.
What a lovely contrast in styles – their colourful and exuberant dashing across the ground to a 15-piece orchestra, our black and white aerial manoeuvres to the measured beat of reeds, trombone and occasional drum.
The rain held off on Sunday too and the measure of appreciation has to be that many people took the trouble to seek us out on both days!
Off-piste, so to speak, Bertie Wright played a gorgeous set on his hand-crafted melodeon accompanied by a grizzled Holt Morris drummer, the rain failed to make mud of a beautiful setting, Eric Bibb brought echoes of his appearance at the Village Pump in 2007 – this time accompanied and enhanced by awesome electric guitar, Mervyn Grist amused with total irreverence, Mrs Wok fed the body and the Milk Street Brewery fed the soul – when their tent wasn’t doing a hang-glider imitation in the blustery winds.
“Thank you” to Terry for being Squire-for-the-weekend with calm efficiency and to all the dancers and musicians who, with partners, sisters, children (and grandchildren), made this a lovely weekend under the watchful eye of the White Horse.
Following the demise of the wonderful large-scale Green Man Festival organised by our very own Alfie and Jan Windsor over the last few years, they have invited Moonrakers Morris and Bells Angels to join us to celebrate on a smaller scale. Great stuff, you two!
Keeping up the tradition established over the last few years, here we are guests of Somerset Morris. Lovely pub… Lovely company. Lovely setting. Lovely load of punters often from all corners of the globe, Bath being what it is touristically.
This is our annual opportunity to meet up with old friends Sarum Morris, at a new, refreshing location which, nevertheless, is roughly equidistant from our respective Wiltshire headquarters. All the more important now that Wimborne Festival is no longer a fixture in our dance calendar.
Another event to be moving towards a regular calendar fixture, we welcome another 9 sides from around and about to assemble in celebration throughout this most beautiful of Wiltshire villages. Our thanks again to Alfie for his co-ordinatory enthusiasm and acumen.
A trip out to this peaceful, canal-side hostelry. From 7.30. pm. onwards we shall be destroying their punter’s tranquility with our particular brand of boisterousness. Lovely location. Come join us. The weather in mid-July is bound to be conducive.
Another of our regular dance-out venues where “their hosts” always extend a very warm welcome. We are often greeted by narrow-boat holiday-makers seeking sustenance and distraction away from their fox-hangers overnight isolation. And of course, we provide the distraction…
This one is especially set up to accommodate Chris, who will be able easily to find his way through the gathering gloaming, to the warmth of his early-Autumn hearth and duvet immediately across the village car-park from the pub. The rest of us will be making our weary way somewhat further South, at the end of what will be the final pub dance-out of our busy season. Feel free to join us for this celebratory occasion!