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The West Somerset Morris have been around since about 1965 when a small group from Mendip Morris led by the late Bob Bradbury and Dudley Binding thought it was time West Somerset had its own side (team in normal parlance!). After 4 years of hard work the side achieved the standard necessary to be accepted into the National Organisation of Morris Ring in 1969.

Of course Morris Dancing goes back many hundreds of years but it was only in the early 1900’s that a revival started so that today there are around 260 sides in the Morris Ring in the UK and over 1000 groups world-wide.

West Somerset Morris has about 25 active members and a few inactive ones too !

The side is led by a Squire – Joe Raucki - and the paperwork is shuffled by the Bagman – Malcolm Appleton. Dudley juggles the limited finances so that any excess of income over expenditure goes to a local charity.

To perfect our dances we practise from September to April at Halsway Manor near Crowcombe and at a local hostelry afterwards ! The summer is taken up by dancing in the villages of West Somerset mainly on Thursday evenings and at village fetes and similar events at the weekends. In 2004 for instance we danced 30 times in West Somerset and at the House of Commons, as well as going on tour to the Czech republic.

You too can be a part of this exciting life either as a dancer or a musician. Age is not a barrier as many of the dancers are already in the retirement category ! A sense of timing and a musical ear are not essential – the writer can testify to this – but do of course, help particularly for musicians !

The Morris is part of the West Somerset scene and it is important to continue this old tradition well into the Millennium.

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The aim of the museum is to display the past and present life of the City of Wells and Mendip area; from the Wookey Hole Iron Age remains to 13th century statues, including a miniature antique shop. The Mendip District offers a wonderful blend of history and legend, amid scenery ranging from the rolling Mendip Hills to the tranquil expanses of the Somerset Levels. Archaeology Mendip caves have always produced fascinating insights into the way our ancestors lived and the animals that used to roam the country-side. From iron age pots to mammoth tusks, come and see what we have learned from the evidence left behind in the earth.