The Ironmen

We dance what could be described as a unique and exuberant style of morris, which we know dates back to at least the 17th century.

In 1652 a local account described the "Broseley Morrice Daunce with sword bearers and a rude company of followers"  (Broseley being a small town near to Ironbridge where several of us live) and we still follow the Border Morris tradition which originated in Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, counties which lie along the English-Welsh border.

As is traditional in these border counties, we dance with blackened faces which are thought to serve as a disguise, possibly from evil spirits.

Fresh flowers and feathers in the hats hark back to ancient times, when dances were performed as fertility rituals.

In 1885 the Broseley dancers appeared "in fantastic dresses with plenty of coloured paper and black faces". The coloured paper  (which young boys used to delight in setting fire to) has these days been replaced by cloth tatters" which decorate the waistcoats, and we also wear the clogs and bowler hats which would once have been worn by the quarrymen, miners and artisans of the district.

Few if any specific details of actual Border Morris dances from the past survive, so our dances are our own interpretations of the 'Border tradition'.

All are danced with sticks, which are clashed together loudly, and the dances are characterised by shouts and lively, energetic figures - well, as energetic as we can manage these days!