1. Welcome
  2. Who We Are
  3. Dance Out 2012
  4. Mumming
  5. Memories 1
  6. Memories 2
  1. Contact
  2. Longsword
  3. Previously
  4. Music
  5. Vessel Cupping
  6. Memories 3
  7. Memories 4

Who We Are

Green Oak Morris Men (GOMM) are a side who perform the traditional men's dances of England

We are members of The Morris Ring, the organisation for men's Morris and Sword clubs

Seen above at Cusworth Hall near Doncaster on May morning 2008

The semi-nomadic Green Oak hang-out in Tickhill (a small town and civil parish on the Nottinghamshire border) close to Doncaster
(a large town geographically located within the West Riding of Yorkshire)

There are a few references to the Morris in Doncaster, the earliest being in 1557 when St. George's church accounts itemised articles purchased for the Morris dancers

The side beast is a dragon called Erick. He sometimes deigns to appear with us, if he's feeling hungry

The side perform mainly 'Cotswold' Morris from the English midlands with sticks and hankies

Other traditional dancing includes a Yorkshire Longsword dance and Vessel Cupping from the East Riding

A Brief History of Green Oak Morris Men

The present side was formed in 1971 out of High Melton Morris, a side resident at High Melton Teacher Training College, midway between Wath and Doncaster. Green Oak came via Doncaster (The Yorkist PH), Bentley (Reform Club), Tickhill (Red Lion Inn) back to Doncaster (St. George's church hall) in 1983. The hall is adjacent to the Minster Church of St. George, whose accounts listed items given to the local Morris dancers in 1557. As with most twentieth century 'Cotswold' Morris sides, Green Oak trace descent from Headington Quarry Morris.

Headington informed the English Folk Dance Society (1911),
whom begat 'the old' Ripley Morris (1924),
whom begat Foresters Morris (1952).
Foresters (Cotswold) and Folk Union One (Sword) begat Green Ginger Morris (1968),
whom begat High Melton Morris (1969).

The prime mover behind HMM & Green Oak was Paul D Davenport, stalwart of the seventies and eighties folk research scene. Paul was an ex-Green Ginger man and started a side with some other High Melton students. Present Green Oak musician and HM College alumnus Mick was amongst them.

An offshoot of Green Oak was Cheswold Morris. Cheswold was started in 1977 by a number of disaffected Green Oak men and others. They practised at the Corporation Brewery Taps PH in Doncaster, and danced in the Sam Smiths Brewery colours of black, white and old gold. Cheswold folded circa 1983.

Green Oak continueth...