The Gate to Southwell Procession

The Gate to Southwell is a modern revival, established over 40 years ago by Dolphin Morris, of a custom dating back to 1109 involving the Southwell Pence. This was  a sum of money collected in Nottingham from the nearby parishes to fund a new church : Southwell Minster and a  procession with dancing was established as a Whitsuntide fund raising exercise. Originally, a purse of money was handed over in Nottingham at the start of the day by the Lord Mayor as the contribution from the city, and further money was raised for charity before the cash was handed over  at the end of the day in a wooden collection bowl. The original modern revival began in the city centre of Nottingham and ended at Southwell, with the day-long procession passing through Sneinton and Burton Joyce and numerous pubs and villages on the way on a weekend in mid June. Nowadays there’s a shorter procession at Southwell to the Minster on the Saturday morning of the Festival weekend in July, where there’s a brief celebration of the historic tithe, including music and dancing and the presentation of The Southwell Pence inside the church. Afterwards, there’s a procession down King Street and copious  morris dancing from several sides, with music and merriment.

Helpful Hints

In 2026 it should be on Saturday 4th July.

It’s now held in early July alongside the Gate to Southwell Festival, which includes a wide variety of musical acts in a lakeside setting at Kirklington just outside Southwell. It’s family friendly and the full festival takes place over 4 days, from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th July in 2026. The schedule for the Procession and Southwell Pence appears under the Dance section on the Festival website, as it’s connected to the Morris sides. The Festival is usually near the start of the month but varies a little from one year to another.

Click here for the Festival website: https://www.gtsf.uk

and Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/gatetosouthwellfestival/