West Somerset Morris will be on a dancing tour on Saturday, October 2, taking in Watchet, Washford, Minehead and Dunster.

And they will be joined by Thames Valley Morris Men and Greensleeves Morris Men.

With their combined skills they will perform dances from the Cotswolds, the Border counties and from Litchfield. Most of these dances have ancient origins lost in time and would have been performed by the virile young blades of the village who were thought to have special powers!

The West Somerset Morris Men was originally formed in 1965 at Halsway Manor. During 2015, women were introduced and the West Somerset Border Morris was created. Three years later, the West Somerset Morris was established.

Morris dancing is part of the West Somerset scene and the local side is determined that the tradition is not lost to ancient history.

Cecil Sharp, who died almost 100 years ago, initiated the teaching of folk song and dance in English schools. Without his enthusiasm and skills as a musician, it is unlikely that Morris dancing would have even been heard of today.

In 1899, while Sharp was enjoying a Christmas break in Oxfordshire, a strange group of men dressed in white and supporting coloured ribbons appeared in the drive.

They delighted him with a dance, accompanied by a concertina player. Sharp was intrigued , noted the music and later devised a notation for the dances which he used in his publications.

In 1903, while staying in Somerset at the Hambridge Vicarage, Sharp heard the gardener sing ‘The Seeds of Love’, which inspired him to collect over 130 traditional songs in Somerset.

Sadly, Sharp collected no Morris dances in this area but he did record the Apple Tree Wassail at the Butcher’s Arms, Carhampton.

Sharp noted many sea songs and chanties from John Short, better known as Yanky Jack, whose statue is on Watchet Esplanade. He also noted 27 long sword dances in North East England.

The morris sides will be dancing on The Esplanade, Watchet, at 10.30am, outside the Washford Inn at midday, on Minehead seafront at 2.30pm and at Dunster Yarn Market at 4pm on October 2