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Chipping Campden is a small town in the North Cotswolds, about 12 miles south west of Stratford upon Avon and described by Trevelyan, the British historian, as having "The finest high street in England". The town was largely built on the profits from the wool trade and when the trade began to diminish, due to the onset of the industrial revolution, the town began to decline and was saved by the arrival of the Guild of Handicraft and C.R. Ashbee. Ashbee had a dream and realised it by bringing a group of craft workers from the east end of London to Chipping Campden in search of "The Simple Life" and in doing so they revitalised the town. The origins of Morris are lost in the " Mists of Time", but it was first noted in the 15th century. It is the traditional English ritual folk dance, and the dances have been largely handed down from generation to generation.
In the late 19th century it very nearly died out, but was rescued by a group of r esearchers, around the turn of the 20th century, who travelled the length and breadth of England talking to old dancers and noting down the music and dance, the most prominent being Cecil Sharp. Our tradition was first noted in the early 1700's, when one James Warner played "pipe & tabor" for the local side, this pipe is now in the Gloucester Folk museum. We are recognised by our peers as one of the unbroken traditional sides, and our dances are unique.
The Pipe from Gloucester
Therefore, we dance our tradition and no other and this is respected by the rest of the Morris. We have also maintained strong local family ties and in the not too distant past were able to boast 3 generations dancing at the same time. Currently amongst our side we have 3 fathers dancing with their sons, and so we are very much alive and well in the early 21st century.
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