In the 1950's Dan Howison (Manchester Morris Men) noted the dance again from some of the old dancers and revived it with the Manchester Morris Men. It has been an important part of their repertoire since then, and they are still dancing it. Happily a revival side was formed in Mossley in the 1980s, largely as a result of the work of Derek Howard, a local enthusiast. This team devised a new costume - blue waistcoat, white shirt with blue tie, black breeches with yellow braid down outside seam, yellow sash tied at side and left hanging, yellow stockings, clogs and straw hat with blue band. They are still dancing and may be seen regularly following local Rushcarts.
A handbill from 1981 reads
THURSDAY 14th MAY 1981, 7.30 p.m.
MOSSLEY MARKET GROUND
THE MANCHESTER MORRIS MEN
WILL PERFORM AMONGST OTHER DANCES
Mossley Morris Men 1922, outside
their usual rehearsal place - The Stamford Arms, Mossley.
Morris Dancers of this period had their own "Town Dance" and Mossley was no exception. However, with this decline of the Mossley Morris Men in about 1934, the "Mossley Dance" was lost to the town, although the dance itself is not lost. It is to be performed today by the Manchester Morris Men on the Market Place opposite the place where the dance was originated and rehearsed.
The editor is endebted to Mr. D. Howard who recently has amassed a lot of information on this subject. Mr. Howard hopes in the near future to revive the Mossley Morris Men and anyone interested should contact him on Mossley 2932.
