Dances

Coming together in Coquetdale

Social gatherings were an essential part of life in the valley.

People would walk or ride long distances to meet up for weekly dances, seasonal parties and the annual agricultural shows. These were a chance to have fun, catch up with friends, play music and games and – perhaps – find a partner.

‘Windyhaugh Christmas party went on until midnight, and it had started at 2 o’clock in the afternoon! The beauty of it was that the whole community was there, from the likes of George and Liza Murray in their eighties down to children in their prams.‘
Bob Burston, Vicar of Alwinton, Holystone and Alnham from 1977 to 1983.

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What’s your story?

Can you remember the first party or dance you went to?

What music was playing, and what did you wear?

A bit of blether

Aal that canny dancin’ will make ye reet clammin’!

‘Music’s in wor feet’

Dances were very popular, especially with shepherds who rarely saw other people out on the hills.

Everyone knew the songs and steps. Children were taught traditional dances at school. Musicians played their fiddles, Northumberland pipes and mouth organs long into the night.

‘My father used to play the fiddle at local dances. In those days, every village had its little hall for dances.’

Joe Hutton, shepherd and renowned Northumberland pipes player (1923-1995).