Shitwitches Home Page

Norwich Shitwitches Home Page

Molly dancing was confines to East Anglia. It probably represents the final degenerate form of the once nationwide ritual dance that evolved into the customs of Morris, Sword, Border and Clog dancing in the other parts of the country. The last true 'gang' of Molly Dancers was observed dancing in Little Downham, Norfolk, in 1933. The dancing was described thus: "there was very little in the dancing, and at each place they merely jigged about in couples turning slowly round. They held each other's upper arms…. The steps consisted of right hop, left hop, springing to the right and left alternately. The movement resembled country dance setting except that the men held each other and moved in the same direction."

Other common features were, dressing in women's clothing, blacking of faces, collecting money and dancing at Christmas and the New Year, especially on Plough Monday. It is these similarities that lead us to believe from the scanty historical evidence, that the Shitwitches were Norwich's own version of Molly Dancing. The last 15 years has witnessed a revival in Molly Dancing, as seen by the gathering each year of Molly sides at the Whittlesea Straw Bear ceremony which has been revived and held annually at Whittlesea near Peterborough, on the weekend nearest Plough Monday.

The Norwich Shitwitches dance only at Christmas and the New Year, in women's clothes and face paint, although the 'reconstructed' dance is more involved than mere "jigging around in couples", we hope that we have captured the spirit of the old gangs of Molly Dancers and probably the Shitwitches themselves, except that our "begging" is for charity rather than ourselves. We are proud to be reviving on old Norwich custom, and hope that you enjoy our jigging around as much as we enjoy performing it. And as to the name, we do not know why they were called Shitwitches, whether this was a corruption of another word or indeed whether it had vulgar connotations in the 18^th. Century. We use the name because it is traditional.

"In Christmas time, and especially on plough Monday several men dress themselves in Women's Close and goe from House to House a Dancing along with (music) where they beg for Money. These are called Shitwitches.

"…. The Custom that prentices Journeymen etc have here, of going about to beg offerings the Day after Christmas day,…. So regular and industerous are these Begars, that the most of them keeps Books from year to year of what they receive & of whome.

"…. Norwich may then be said to be then the Richest and poorest Town in England for from Morn to Night, the poorest scarce wants A poket full of Money & belly full of Liquor,….Two hundred pounds & upward is fooled away with no other than to keep up an ….ancient custom"

Norwich Record Office Manuscript 555242V.

Dance Program 2001

Another local side are our friends Golden Star a mixed Cotswold morris side - most of our side are members.

Also from Norwich are Kemps Men, another Cotswold morris side, and Fiddlesticks - a ladies Northwest Clog side..

Last Updated: 11/02/01