MR WILKINS SHILLING

A women's morris dance side from Bath

Dancing in Bath

Who We Are

Mr Wilkins' Shilling is a women's north-west clog morris side based in Bath and founded in 1988. Most of our dances originate in the mill towns of Lancashire and surrounding counties, hence the description "north-west". In the days when the English textile industry was at its height many of the mill girls wore clogs to work and it is said that as a distraction from their exhausting, noisy and monotonous routine they would move their feet in time to the rhythm of the looms, eventually working these rhythms into dances.

What We Do

We dance at home and abroad at folk festivals, fetes, charity events and weddings. We have strong links with folk-dance sides in France and Finland. In summer 2004 we took part in a weekend of dance in Finland and in 2005 our friends from Helsinki will be coming to dance with us in Bath and Sidmouth. We are currently planning a visit to Aix-en-Provence in April to join our French friends "Li Canesteleto" at their thirty-fifth birthday celebrations. Thanks to folk festivals such as Chippenham and Sidmouth which attract thousands of young people, and helped by the current upsurge in the popularity of ceilidhs, morris dancing has begun to shed its old image and is being taken up by a new generation of younger, energetic dancers and musicians.

Mr Wilkins' Shilling rehearses on Thursday evenings from 8pm - 10pm at Batheaston Methodist Church Hall, Northend, Batheaston, Bath (click here to see a location map). New dancers, including absolute beginners, are welcome to come along on any Thursday. We also welcome new musicians to our line-up of melodeons, concertinas, French horn and percussion.

What's in a Name?

Mr Wilkins' Shilling takes its name from Mr Charles Wilkins of Bath, a 19th century mill owner who was strictly teetotal. He would dock a shilling, a substantial sum in those days, from the weekly wages of his female workers if they were seen drinking in any of the local alehouses, in or out of working hours. Since morris dancers have something of a reputation as drinkers of ale, the name seemed appropriate. In fact in these days of not drinking and driving you are more likely to find us clutching bottles of water, though our musicians are quite knowledgeable on the subject of real ale.

Contact Us

We are already taking bookings for 2005. To check our availability, fees, or for any further information please get in touch by ringing 01225 869086 or Clicking here.

Where next?

This is us in Bath at Christmas

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Site last updated 2/12/2004.