Abram Morris Dance

Abram Morris Dancers are the only side in the country to perform in a circular formation, a style which is believed to be considerably older than the more common processional style used by others. Their annual day of celebrations in June is held to perpetuate their right to the Morris Dancers Ground in the village, which has been restored by them in recent times.” A plot of land in Park Lane, 20 yards long by 16 wide, is fenced round and known as the Morris Dancers’ ground. The enclosure was originally taken from the waste, and the generally received opinion in the neighbourhood is that if Morris Dancing be not celebrated once in twenty years, the right to the land lapses. To this belief the custom probably owes its preservation.” From The Memorials of Abram by John Leyland, 1882. The dance was revived during the 1980s after a lapse of many years and is now a well established date in the local calendar, with local schoolchildren contributing to the dancing, who will hopefully form the next generation to carry the dance on into the future.

Helpful Hints

The dancers sometimes tour local villages of Bickershaw, Hindley and Platt Bridge as well as performing “at home”. After the dancing a Lancashire Night often follows at the Community Centre. The full schedule will appear on the event website in early June, listing all locations and timings but always starting at Abram at 11 am at the Morris Dancers’ Ground.

In 2024 it had to be cancelled due to a lack of dancers- more recruits are needed to carry the tradition on into the future. Hopefully it should return in 2025 on Saturday 28th June (to be confirmed). Potential participants should follow the links below.

Click here for the website : http://www.abram-morris-dancers.org.uk/

and here for the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/abrammorrisdancers/