| Where: | South East London and the City (route varies annually but usually starts and finishes at the Dog & Bell) |
| When: | 1st May |
| Time: | From 11 -ish/noon all afternoon into early evening |
The old May Day custom of parading a Jack in the Green at Deptford, a man encased in a framework entirely covered with greenery, is one of the lesser-known modern revivals though it dates back to the early 1980s. The Blackheath Morris side go out in the City and South East London with Fowlers Troop and their Jack every May 1st – their route varies from year to year so check their website for final details. Jack wears an elaborate floral crown and is accompanied by dancing and music wherever he goes, and when he returns to the Dog and Bell in the late afternoon, he is ceremonially “slain” and greenery is distributed to the crowd.
Helpful Hints
This custom takes place on May 1st NOT on the Bank Holiday unless it falls on the 1st, too. In 2026 the route started at 11 at the Dog & Bell and ended there at 6pm approximately- details are published near the due date and for full itinerary and map check out the Facebook link below and scroll ’til you find it. 2027 route is yet to be announced.
Click here for the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1370502546475532
Click here for the event website, which should have the full schedule for the day :http://www.deptford-jack.org.uk/
Please note that it is Blackheath Morris, not the Fowler’s Troop, who perform the morris dances at various pubs along the way. Fowler’s Troop exists specifically for Jack in the Green and includes members of Blackheath Morris side, Deptford Molly Dancers and other individuals such as myself. The original Fowlers Troop was photographed in 1906 as seen here:
http://www.deptford-jack.org.uk/fowlerstroop1900s.htm
A recreation of this photo was staged 100 years later,
Hi Steve!
Thanks for putting me right about the dancing and for sending a copy of the marvellous photo! I’ve amended my article accordingly.Hope to see you there one day (this year we’re in Cornwall!)
Kind Regards,
Averil
Jack now returns to the Dog and Bell in the late afternoon and for last couple of years has been ceremonially slain (Similar to Hastings Jack but a lot less crowded ) The Green is then thrown to the crowd.
Many thanks for the update Ian- I’ve added a note to the article.It’s a while since we’ve been to Deptford and it’s really helpful to have new developments shared!
Best wishes,
Averil
Hello! I’m really excited to attend this year. I was wondering if it would be okay if I got some video footage on my camera of the parade, and potentially some interviews with a couple of the people involved. I thought it could be interesting to do a little video on my youtube channel (i’m not a professional or anything just very interested in folk customs and I work as a videographer)
Hi Amelia,
Thanks for your message. Here at calendarcustoms we have no connection to the organisation of the event, we just have a page about when/where it happens. I’m pretty sure that you’ll be fine to take some footage where the action is in a public place, but to double check and to ask about interviews etc you’ll need to contact the organisers direct. You can join their private Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1370502546475532/about or fill out the email contacts form at https://deptford-jack-in-the-green.kit.com – hopefully one of those should get you in touch in time, and have the details of the schedule for the day (they publish that very close to the due date as it’s tricky to compose and subject to change). It’s a really fun day out- hope you have a great time!
Averil
Annual Crony event for white hipsters and their close friends that arent even local – hard to find any info but its on today if you know them not very inclusive TBH – Juts seen them pass the NEST in deptford 2.40 pm
Ps the links arent updated much