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Christleton in the Past
David Cummings

FEBRUARY 2024

Primary School - Maypole Dancing

Part 7

Part 7 of the Series

As we approach the 50th Anniversary of the “new” Primary School in April. I am reprinting an article about the Maypole at the Primary School written for the Parish Magazine several years ago, and illustrating it fully with pictures from the archives.

Although it’s some years now since we last had a performance of Maypole dancing in the village, it had been a strong tradition for over 100 years. The series of Maypole dances we used were adapted from those first performed in the village in the early 1900’s. They were based on traditional maypole dances recorded in Cecil Sharp’s English Folk Dance manual from the 1880’s. In the 1970’s I adapted the dances and rearranged the music to suit our own needs. E.g dropping the double plait dance which, if danced enthusiastically, by the children could cause the pole to swing from side to side, and a danger to dancers and audience if it toppled. On picture 6 you can see me holding onto the pole outside Browns in Eastgate Street, as there is nothing to anchor the maypole to in a street, or on the school playground. That was the occasion when a fire engine came around from Frodsham Street and did a loop into St John Street, with all its bells clanging. The dancers all looked to see what was going on, and the ribbons were in such a tangle we had to unwind and start again!! It was a chaotic moment.

I commissioned new music, and a local folk group led by my friend David Hayns, who rewrote and recorded a modern set of tunes for us, using the traditional Christleton dances. One of these dances was later used by the BBC during “It’s a Knock Out” TV programme from Windsor. Many of the old tunes were Nursery Rhymes, and you would always hear the children shout “pop” when the phrase “Pop goes the weasel” was played. The dances themselves had very descriptive titles including, single plait, double plait, barbers pole, spiders web and gypsies tent.

A photograph from the 1907 Fete can be seen in the images below, but the performance was being given by Infants, from the Girls and Infants School in Quarry Lane. In the 1930’s the dancers were all girls, but in the 1960/70s teams were always mixed, and they were from the Junior School in Pepper Street. (now The Parish Hall), and from 1974 the “new” County Primary School in Quary Lane.

The maypole we used in the 1970’s was solid oak, and probably 100 years old, and when we had it replaced, it had to be done in the boatbuilders yard in Chester. The original feet were re-used. The pole itself was 15ft/5m tall, and had a revolving top which held the ribbons but which could be taken off and carried. The Christleton pole had 16 ribbons (eight pairs of dancers), and the dances were timed to allow the revolution of the ribbons in time with the bar sequences of the music. The ribbons were four of each, red, blue, green and yellow and were over 16ft long. The pairs were numbered 1 to 8, with the lead couple being no 1 pair and always taking the lead. The red and blue ribbons were used on positions 1,3,5,7, and the green and yellow on positions 2.4.6.8. These combinations gave the delightful woven patterns that became quite distinctive as the dances progressed, and each of the dances appeared in the 20minute sequence. I always tried to keep continuity, having the same partners together, and always dancing as an odd or even number. This helped co-ordination, as the concentration needed was immense. There was always a full reserve team, able to take over if required. It took up to three weeks (15 half hour sessions) to train a team to display standard.

As we always performed on hard surfaces, the maypole had to be strong, but that made it very heavy to transport. With the support of parents, and the City Council, we made it to displays all over the county. On Chester Meadows before a re enactment of the Battle of Rowton Moor for Barnados was one exciting venue where the children performed to a large audience. This also occurred on the Roodeye for the Lord Mayors Parade, on the Town Hall Square, and outside Browns in Eastgate Steet with the Deva Folk Ensemble.

Teams performed at the Old Hall at Tatton Park for Knutsford Mayday celebrations, as well as regular displays on the Village Green outside Jim Partington’s Butchers Shop, and every year at the Village Fete. The School also hosted groups from Sweden, Poland & Czechoslovakia, who were guests of the Deva Folk Ensemble.

Maypole dancing is out of fashion these days, but it certainly kept the youngsters very fit, as it was a non stop aerobic activity for twenty minutes at a time. They were also fun times, and the children both boys and girls loved the activity. Allowing parents to try a maypole dance on special evenings, was even funnier, and I think they all realised very quickly, how much concentration you need and how co -ordinated you have to be, to even do even the simplest of dances. 
If anyone would like a set of the instructions for teaching Maypole Dances please get in touch.

  • First picture of the Maypole

    First picture of the Maypole

  • Maypole Dancing on the Green 1980's

    Maypole Dancing on the Green 1980's

  • Maypole Dancing on the Green 1980's

    Maypole Dancing on the Green 1980's

  • Maypole Dancing on the Green

    Maypole Dancing on the Green

  • Maypole Team on the Meadows

    Maypole Team on the Meadows

  • Maypole Team on the Meadows

    Maypole Team on the Meadows

  •  Maypole Team outside Browns Eastgate Sttreet, Chester

    Maypole Team outside Browns Eastgate Sttreet, Chester

  • Maypole Team at Town Hall, Chester

    Maypole Team at Town Hall, Chester

  • Maypole team outside Chester Town Hall

    Maypole team outside Chester Town Hall

  • Maypole Team outside Chester Town Hall

    Maypole Team outside Chester Town Hall

  • Maypole Team outside Chester Town Hall

    Maypole Team outside Chester Town Hall

  • Maypole Dancing at Chester Cathedral

    Maypole Dancing at Chester Cathedral

  • Maypole Team by Chester Town Hall

    Maypole Team by Chester Town Hall

  •     Christleton Mapole Dandera at Chester Town Hall

    Christleton Mapole Dandera at Chester Town Hall

  • Christleton Mapole Dancers at Chester Cathedral

    Christleton Mapole Dancers at Chester Cathedral

  • Christleton Mapole Dancers at Tatton Park

    Christleton Mapole Dancers at Tatton Park

  • Maypole Team ay Tatton Park with the Green Man

    Maypole Team ay Tatton Park with the Green Man

  • Maypole Dancing on their way to Christleton Village Fete

    Maypole Dancing on their way to Christleton Village Fete

  • Maypole Dacing at Christleton Summer Fete

    Maypole Dacing at Christleton Summer Fete

  • Christleton Mapole Dancers at Tatton Park on May Day

    Christleton Mapole Dancers at Tatton Park on May Day

  • Maypole Daning on a hard surface at Christleton Fete

    Maypole Daning on a hard surface at Christleton Fete

  • Maypole Dancing at Christleton Fete

    Maypole Dancing at Christleton Fete

  • Maypole Dancing at Christleton Fete

    Maypole Dancing at Christleton Fete

  • Maypole Team at Christleton Fete

    Maypole Team at Christleton Fete

  • Maypole Team at Christleton Fete

    Maypole Team at Christleton Fete

  • Maypole Team going to Christleton Fete

    Maypole Team going to Christleton Fete

  • Strawberry and Wine Evening

    Strawberry and Wine Evening

  • Mapole Practice Display

    Mapole Practice Display

  • Mapole Practice Display

    Mapole Practice Display

  • Mapole Practice Display

    Mapole Practice Display

CHRISTLETON 4

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History of Christleton Primary School Part 7

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