The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #80821   Message #1478113
Posted By: Polly Squeezebox
04-May-05 - 03:49 PM
Thread Name: Folk music in Devizes Wilts.
Subject: RE: Folk music in Devizes Wilts.
Martin, the local morris side is Moonraker Morris - I think they're still dancing. Otherwise local side is Chippenham Town Morris. I know that a cotswold side from Westminster were visiting on an annual basis until quite recently, I assume they still do. Could be worth contacting those sides to arrange a tour.

Apart from being the home of the famous Wadworth 6X Brewery, Devizes is also known in folklore as the place where the Wiltshire Moonrakers first got their name. A group of smugglers were supposedly using rakes to get their barrels out of the Cramer (large ornate duckpond in the centre of town) when along came the excise man. When asked what they were doing they replied they were trying to rake the cheese out of the water - the cheese being the reflection of the full moon in the pond. Hence, Wiltshire people have been labelled ever since with being rather stupid. Seems like they should be labelled as liking a good tipple - what with barrels of brandy and now our excellent 6X! Come to think of it, not a bad theme for a song - watch this space.

Polly