North West Clog Morris

The North West Clog Morris originated in the villages of Cheshire, Lancashire, and the far west of Yorkshire.  Dancers worked in the cotton mills and other large industries of the area. Each town or village had its own side or team, and its own dance.

Milltown

Dance sides can be all men, all women, or mixed.  North West Morris is usually performed by sets of eight dancers.  The dance figures (the pattern on the ground), and arm movements were intended to depict the operation of the mills machinery – such as in the crossing of the shuttles in the looms.  The clatter of the clogs echo the rattle of machinery.
 The Dancers would dress in elaborate and colourful costumes, but would be shod in clogs, the footwear of the mill workers. The dances were usually performed during wakes week, the one holiday week of the year.

  • About

    We are a group of ladies who love to dance traditional clog morris in the North West style. Our dancers come from several towns around, all of which in the past were thriving cotton mill towns, hence the name.

  • links
    • Open Morris - Open Morris is open to any group or individual involved in the performance of Morris Dancing or allied activities. All sides are welcome – mixed, male or female, as are dancers or musicians who wish to become individual members.