What and Where is Chanctonbury Ring

Chanctonbury Ring is 6 miles north of Worthing, and is a familiar land mark to Sussex people - which is hardly surprising as it can be seen from more than thirty miles away. Nearly 800 feet high, the ring was the site of an Iron Age camp, and in Roman times a temple was built on the hill. The circle of beech trees (which is the motif of our badge) was planted in 1760 by Charles Goring of Wiston House. He was one of the generation of landowners who believed the South Downs were there to be landscaped. During the Great Storm of 1987, many of the trees which Charles Goring planted fell, leaving Chanctonbury Ring rather naked! These trees have now been replaced and in the future, we hope Chanctonbury Ring will once again be be covered.

Many legends are attached to the Ring. It's origins are said to derive from Satan's labours in digging Devil's Dyke. (Devil's Dyke is another well known landmark, 8 miles east of Chanctonbury Ring). Chanctonbury was one of the clods of earth thrown up when he attempted to dig a channel through the South Downs to drown the Weald. Another tale is told that anyone running 'widdershins' seven times around Chanctonbury Ring on May Eve, whilst Steyning church clock chimes midnight will raise the Devil who will proffer a bowl of Stone soup. In all the time Chanctonbury ring Morris Men took to dancing on the top of the hill at the appointed hour, sightings of the satanic apparition have become a rarity. Could it be that our musicians drown out the sound of the clock!

Our Origins

Chanctonbury Ring Morris Men began as an offshoot of the Shoreham Country Dance Club which had been founded in February 1949. Some members attended an English Folk Dance and Song Society weekend course at Lodge Hill, near Pulborough in 1951 where they were introduced to Morris and Sword Dances.

During the Festival of Britain celebrations of 1951, some members of the country dance club processed through Shoreham in morris kit, though no dances were performed.

At Whitsuntide 1952, some men visited the Morris Dancing at Bampton, in Oxfordshire where they learnt a number of dances. It was not until May Day 1953 that the Shoreham Country Dance Club Morris Men made their debut. They performed both Morris and Long Sword dances wearing dark blue tabards, white trousers and straw hats.

On the 15th September 1953 the Chanctonbury Ring Morris Men were officially formed, the name being suggested by Paul Plumb and Geoff Biggs. Our badge was designed by Ian Scott-Walker, who also made the first baldricks, and ruggles (bell- pads).

A Short History of the Cotswold side

Our first real fame came in 1954. The Times on May 3rd featured a picture of us dancing at the Shepherd and Dog, Fulking. This had been taken two days earlier on our May Day tour of Sussex with the Ravensbourne Morris Men, from Surrey and is reproduced below. Later in the year, we also appeared for the first time on the television.

In June it was decided that black breeches and white stockings should replace the white trousers. Was this because wives and mothers complained about washing beer-stained trousers?

We were the first Sussex team to be admitted to the Morris Ring, our election took place on Saturday July 9th 1955.

(In 2002 Cliff Marchant from our team became Squire of the Ring)

On Boxing Day, 1955 saw us give our first performance of the Steyning Tipteers' Play. Tipteer is the Sussex dialect word for a Mummer. This was hugely successful, and continues to be performed as part of our Boxing Day tour at Sompting and Steyning.

A Short History of the North-West (Clog) side

1975 saw the formation of a clog side within the club. Dancing the distinctive morris of the North West of England, the side originally wore red socks, black breeches, clogs, sashes and floral hats; the sashes have been replaced by a bright red cumabund. More recently bright green waistcoats have been added. On occasions, the side is accompanied by a huge band of musicians - including brass players and drummers - the 'cloggies' have been made welcome a many events where a procession is called for. These have included many Folk Festivals in England, and more locally Lewes Garland Day and Lewes Bonfire Night.

The invitation to the clog team from the Lewes Borough Bonfire Society to appear in their procession, on November 5th, 1978 prompted a lively controversy in the local press, with accusations being made that the introduction of Morris Dancers to the traditional events would bring an undesirable element of carnival into the proceedings. As things turned out, there was nothing but praise for the side's contribution, and we have continued to dance at Lewes on the fifth ever since.

When the Borough Bonfire Society were invited to process down The Mall to Buckingham Palace in 1979 in connection with 'Carols for The Queen', the clog side were honoured to be invited to accompany them. We do not know if Her Majesty was amused! Here we are, dancing the North West Morris.

There were two highlights for the clog team in 1995 - the first being the clog sides 20th anniversary. In August, a celebratory tour was held around Mid-Sussex where we danced at many of the pubs where the clog side had danced 20 years earlier! At The Green Man, Horsted Keynes, where the clog team first danced twenty years earlier, a member produced some photographs taken twenty years earlier - there were grasps of WHAT! LOOK AT THAT HAIR!

Then in September, the clog side went, with our friends The Winchester Morris Men to the Steenderen Festival in Holland. This was a great success, our dancing was well received both by the dutch audience and the numerous other European teams who attended.

Our Dragon

Like many Morris Sides, an animal will accompany our performance. In fact we have a Dragon called Georgian. Georgian has several roles within Chanctonbury Ring Morris Men, for example he likes creeping up on unsuspecting members of the audience and nibbling their ears! On other occasions he can be spotted chasing children. But best of all, he likes eating - his favorite food being gold one pound coins! Here are two photographs of Georgian doing other things he likes - one is chatting up young ladies and the other is riding a bicycle!