Wigan Clogs Made Especially For Old Bull Clog Morris Dancers

A Memory of Wigan.

The clogs I wear were made by an old craftsman in Wigan. I had them made around 1980 at which time I was dancing with a morris side in Barnet named Old Bull Clog Morris Dancers - so called because they practised each week at the Old Bull Arts Centre in Barnet.

It was nearly thirty years ago and my clogs are are still looking good and are comfortable despite the knocks they have taken at folk festivals, in processions and in pubs and on hard pavements! Over these years I have graduated to a morris musician, firstly with Old Bull Clog Morris for a year or two, then with Pumphouse Clog Morris in Watford for four or five years, and mostly with Whitethorn Morris almost continuously since 1979. These morris sides have provided my excuse to travel around much of the country and I reckon my Wigan made clogs may be good for another thirty years yet!  

Latterly I have been wearing my clogs while playing music for Heather and Gorse Clog Morris since I moved to Devon in 2006. Everywhere I go people remark on how good the clogs look and I always tell them I got them from "A wizened old craftsman in Wigan".

John Howard Norfolk, accordian-playing and penny-whistle-blowing morris musician and very occasional dancer.