Bampton Morris dancers c1924/5 outside the Elephant & Castle.
The sign over the pub door says Posting House, Horses, Carriages, Brakes. Personal attention given, Albert Townsend. The 3rd and 4th lines are hard to read which is a pity but it looks like 'For Hire All Trains Met On The Shortest Notice.
On 23rd September 1935 the Townsend family moved across the road to Castle View and made a farm of it having much more room to fatten more pigs.
William Kimber, who played for Heading Quarry was a friend of Bampton Morris. His side danced at Mrs Birch's Sandfield Cottage in Headington and her son-in-law was staying.
The Bampton Traditional Morris Men had their tea in the old school in Church View for many years. In the last few years, they began a tradition of doing a dance inside, away from the public to get their legs going again but it was done without music. It was lovely hearing just the bells and their feet on the floor and the men enjoyed doing it.
This picture must have been taken some time between 1926 and 1938 because that was the period when Bertie Clark, seen here on the fiddle, played in Bampton.
They are dancing at the East end of the Market Square.
Colin Harold Bathe died on May 8th 2011 at the age of seventy three. His close friend David John Titchener, widely known as Curly, preceded him by just a few months dying at the age of seventy six on January 20th 2011. Both were well known in the area around their home town of Swindon for numerous activities relating to sports and motorised vehicles, but it is their involvement with traditional music, Morris dancing and song for which they will be remembered by Bampton people.
The article gives you far more information about these two men.
Between 1926 and 1938 Bertie Clark, although not a Bampton man, played for the Bampton Morris Men and he can be seen here on the left. The dancers are on the South side of the Market Square in front of Folly View semi-detached houses.
Each year, usually in November, the Bampton Traditional Morris Men had a party with singing and dancing and a lovely buffet. Swindon Folk Club members were invited along with a few other special friends associated with the side. These pictures were all take at their 1996 party in the Village Hall, Market Square
