If I remember correctly (it was Christmas Day evening so it was a bit of a haze!), the fair depicted in Downton Abbey was in Thirsk. I am not sure what year the drama is now up to ... perhaps mid 1920s. Therefore, any Esperance-influenced team would no longer be functioning, and it would be too early for a separate revival morris side to be performing. Though it could have been an EFDS class performance. But the costume didn't look right for the time! Sword dancers would have been more "authentic" even out of season! But hey, this is fiction!

I am not sure that "much of Downton" is filmed in Bampton. The view of Mrs Crawley's house is familiar as the house next to the church, and the view up the road from there - seen on occasions - seems to suggest that there is a pub where the Eagle once stood (well, the building still still stands but it's a private house now) and Matthew and Mary's wedding was at Bampton church. Besides that, most of the filming seems to be indors - upstairs and downstairs!!

Derek