Abbot's Bromley Horn Dance

Thursday 4th September to Tuesday 8th September


Several years ago we did a walk around the area of Abbots Bromley and on visiting the church and pub we discovered the Horn Dance. We promised ourselves that we would return one year to see this annual event.
http://www.abbotsbromley.com/horn_dance

Having noticed that the Folk Dance and Song group of the Camping and Caravanning Club were holding a rally to coincide with this event we hitched up the caravan and set off to join them at Little Dunstall farm.

It was pouring with rain when we arrived but after a warm welcome from the other caravanners who had already arrived we set up the caravan and then when the sun came out we set off for a walk around Blithfield reservoir.

That was almost the last of the sun for the next few days as it poured with rain on Friday, Saturday and sunday morning. We did attempt a walk along the canals at Great heyward but after a few miles the heavens opened again and we abandoned the walk.

On sunday afternoon it dried up a little and we went for a short walk on Cannock Chase. It was very pleasant but from the top of the hills we could see how flooded the surrounding area was following the rain on the previous days. The Trent had burst its banks and several roads were closed.

On the morning of the Horn Dance (the first Monday following the First Sunday after the 4th September) my alarm did not go off but we woke at 6.20 and quickly got dressed and left to walk to Abbot's Bromley. We arrived just in time for Holy Communion and at 7.30 the villagers arrived to collect the horns which were blessed. These are 6 pairs of 1000 year old reindeer horns. The horns are worn by 6 villagers and are accompanied by Robin Hood (about 8 years old), Maid Marion -rather masculine looking, a Fool complete with pigs bladder, a young lad beating time on a triangle, a hobby horse and some musicians. We watched the start of the horn dance outside the church and followed them through the town for a while. Bacon sarnies in the church house then called so we popped in for breakfast. We walked back to the caravan while the rest of the Horn dancers walked around the village boundaries. At 12.15 we walked up to Little Dunstall farm where we were entertained by the Folk group while waiting for the Horn dancers to arrive. The farmer had provided hot pork rolls with apple sauce and hot punch which was very nice. The Horn dancers arrived at about 1.30pm and performed their dances on the farm lawn. They left after about 30 minutes to continue their walk round the area. We returned to the caravan for a cup of tea and then at 5.30 we walked back to Abbots Bromley where we watched clog dancers and Morris men until the horns arrived back after a 10 mile walk. We went to see the horns replaced in the church and then walked back to the caravan in the dark.
Luckily it had stayed dry all day unlike Tuesday morning when it was pouring with rain again as we packed up to go home.