TABORERS WINTER WARMER (Outline Programme 2025)

Winter Warmer 2025 – 7-9 February (London, based around St Andrew’s Church, Thornhill Square, N1 1BQ). On 8-Feb, it’s going to include a Tour of Smithfield and St Bartholomew’s the Great, which is a very beautiful medieval church, c. 5:30pm Morris & Taborers at the Hammerton Brewery N7 8XH, and 7pm a talk by Mike Heaney on “Where does Morris Dancing come from?” (with a late medieval focus) at St Andrew’s Church. We also expect to play La Duchess (Gresley), opportunity for up to 6 at once to do “guerilla” bodhran style taboring with Bob (Bird) when you’re not needed elsewhere, and a 15th century dance workshop including Danse de Cleves from Barbara.

Outline Programme v1f pdf

Suggested cost: £10 for Taborers Society Members (for the whole weekend, but excludes food & drink).

Music: Here is the All Taborers Repertoire, also for self-selecting Consort players Danse de Cleves, La Duchess (Gresley), Schein Suite no. 10 – Allemande & Tripla, and Schiarazula Marazula, plus for bodhran style taborers we have Blowzabella.

Outline Schedule:

Friday 7 February: Meet from 4:30 pm onwards at the Hammerton Brewery N7 8XH. [food available].

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm: Rehearse Taborers ensemble pieces for the weekend performances: La Duchese, Danse de Cleves, Schiarazula, Petit Riens, Rosti Boli .., etc. in the small hall at St Andrew’s. Plus informal playing session: ‘play & pass’, etc.

Saturday 8 February:

9:00 to 9:30 meet at cafe Dose, 70 Long Lane, London EC1A 9EJ (nearest tube Barbican, 1 min walk, Dose opens at 9:00 am).

9:30 to 10:00 Walk through old Market to the church of St Bartholomew the Great (opens at 10:00).

10:00 to 11:00 explore church and (if permitted) play some tunes in the cloister garden.

11:00 Assemble at church entrance and walk to St Bart’s hospital (2 mins walk), enter by the main entrance (King Edward Street) this will take you first to the atrium (and piano!), and from there you can access the square.  Please note that ambulances park on the side of the square closest to the King George V building, but the rest of the square is vehicle free. 

11:00 to 12:00 Play in St Bart’s courtyard and tour old Smithfield Market and the old tournament location.

9:30 to 12:00 Tour of Smithfield and St Bartholomew’s the Great.

13:00 to 14:00 Pizza lunch in the Hammerton Brewery (other options are available, also consider whether to plan a speedy sandwich for later).

14:00 to 16:00 Rehearsal (Taborers Ensemble plus Chalemie) in St Andrew’s Church, Thornhill Square, N1 1BQ.

16:00 to 16:30 Tea Break.

16:30 to 17:30 Open Rehearsal Performance of The Smithfield Tournament for La Duchesse (Mummers and Taborers Ensemble).

c.17:30 onwards Morris (New Esperance, Cambridge, Pilgrim & others) & Taborers at the Hammerton Brewery (food available).

19:00 to 21:00 Illustrated Virtual Talk by Mike Heaney ( “Where does Morris Dancing come from?”) in the Small Hall at St Andrew’s (holds about 40). Laptop, projector and screen available. This will be followed by a round table discussion or talk led by Bill Tuck on dance and taborers at the Burgundian Court in the 15th century. If numbers warrant, the large hall at St Andrews would be available (100 max).

Sunday 9 February:

9:30 Meet for coffee in the Main Hall, Church on the Corner, 64 Barnsbury Road, N1 0ES, map.

10:00 to 12:00 15th century Dance Workshop in Church on the Corner (Danse de Cleves, Rostiboli, and Petit Riens).

12:00 to 13:00 Walking tour of Barnsbury parks (0.5 mile approx. – see map) with informal performances on the way.

13:00 to 15:00 Pizza Lunch in the Hammerton Brewery followed by departures.

How to get there:

The nearest tube to the Church on the Corner is Angel Islington. Buses number 73, 205, and 30 also stop nearby on Pentonville Road.

St Andrew’s church is two minutes walk from the Caledonian Road. Buses run regularly from York Way at Kings Cross and numbers 91, 259 and 17 will stop very near to the church (Story Street stop). Approx. 5 mins from Kings Cross.

The ‘Caledonian Road and Barnsbury’ Overground station is also two minutes walk from St Andrew’s.

Parking:

Metered parking is available in the surrounding streets for Saturday (free after 1:30). On Sunday parking is free all day and readily available in Thornhill Square.

Accommodation:

Numerous hotels and hostelries (at various prices) in the Kings Cross area.