The Springhead Morris was founded by Rolf Gardiner to dance Morris and Sword dances in the festivals and celebrations instituted by him with the aim of restoring a seasonal calendar of musical and other artistic activities as an integral part of the agricultural life of the Springhead community at Fontmell Magna. Festivals were celebrated at such times as Christmas, May-day, Plough Monday, and harvest. One Plough Monday the team danced at eight different places in Dorset, including Blandford, Dorchester and Shaftesbury. On another occasion they made a longer tour and joined in a show with the Eynsham traditional team at Eynsham. (R.Gardiner)
The Club was founded in the winter of 1934-5. Mr H. Bentley Thorn, of Bromley, who is well known for his magnificent work in teaching the Morris, met some of the younger men of the village at a country-dance party given by Mr and Mrs Hunt in the old barn at Goodmans Farm, and persuaded them to take up the Morris. From then right up to the outbreak of the war he came over once a month to Stansted, at some personal inconvenience, to take the Morris practice. One or two older men helped to complete the side, and by the end of the summer such good progress had been made that on a Saturday afternoon in September the Club was able to undertake a tour round the neighbouring villages. Open-air shows were given at Wrotham, Hartley, and Meopham. The Club regularly attended the London gatherings, and gave displays at local fetes and shows. The war put an end to the Club's activities, and in the changed circumstances since the war it seems unlikely that the Club will be revived. (G.Baker)
Suffolk men have been meeting for Morris dancing on and off since the early 1930's. A full side attended Thaxted first in 1936. Walter Watford was Squire when the club was admitted to association with the Ring in 1938. In the summers of 1938 and 1939 two or three tours in Suffolk were organised. There are now two teams active: one at Ipswich, led by Leslie Ford, and the other at Sudbury, led by Archie Bryden; both have given displays on various occasions. (R.A.Bryden)