Ancient horn dance returns to village

The dance celebrates hunting and the harvest, visiting farms and numerous pubs in the area

An 800-year-old ritual dance involving reindeer antlers is being performed in a Staffordshire village.

The Abbots Bromley Horn Dance is held on the first Monday after 4 September - known as Wakes Monday - and attracts visitors from across the world.

Villagers dress up as deer-men, a fool, hobby horse, bowman and Maid Marian, and wear the antlers as part of a full day of festivities.

Organisers claim its origins date back to 1226 and it was traditionally marked to ensure successful hunting and celebrate the harvest.

The dance draws visitors from around the world to Abbots Bromley

"This is an ancient tradition, it's the oldest tradition in the country," said organiser Terry Bailey.

He added there were two main theories about its origins.

"Some people say it is a celebrational dance of the farmers getting the harvest in or other people say it is a ritual dance," he said.

Mr Bailey added the annual event "puts us on the map" which was also welcomed by publicans.

He said the money made in busy pubs helped their businesses between now and the Christmas period.

The group of dancers and supporters are expected to cover some 10 miles over the day, visiting different locations in the area, including local farms and pubs.

Villagers have worked hard to preserve the dance, with documentary evidence suggesting three soldiers were sent back from overseas to participate in the dance during World War One.

Organiser Terry Bailey said the annual dance put the village on the map

During the Covid pandemic in 2020, a token dance was performed to ensure the tradition was continued. The following year, as restrictions lifted, the event drew hundreds of visitors to the village, with some pubs reported to have run out of beer.

Last year, postcards featuring the horn dance were auctioned as part of a collection showing life in the county about 100 years ago.

The village works to keep the keep the tradition going, including by finding new dancers