v1b with music links (all taborers repertoire music is here, also Jouissance Vous Donneray Orchesographie pages and music).
Winter Warmer 6th-8th February 2026 Lancaster and Carlisle
You will be welcome to join us for the 2026 winter gathering of The Taborers Society in Lancaster and Carlisle on the weekend of the 6th to the 8th of February. These cities have been chosen not only because they are lovely historic places with castles and ancient places of worship, but also because they both have interesting iconography of taborers.
Lancaster City Museum has a carved wooden panel with figures who may be mummers or morris dancers, accompanied by a taborer.
Carlisle Cathedral has carved figures at the top of a stone column, one playing a fiddle, one a comical acrobat and a taborer. There is also a cute little taborer on a chalice in the Treasury.
Programme
Friday 6th February
Lancaster
1230 Lancaster Castle — gather at Atkinson’s café*.
1330 courtyard outside Atkinson’s café (inside if it’s raining) — play a few tunes.
1345 walk to Market Square (under portico of city Museum if it’s raining) — play a few tunes.
1400 City Museum — look at carving of taborer on wooden panel in the museum, with accompanying explanation from Andy Hornby.
1445 Market Square (under portico of city Museum if it’s raining) — play a few tunes.
1500 Lancaster Castle courtyard (in cloistered area if it’s raining) — play a few tunes.
1600 make own way to Carlisle; There are frequent direct trains.
Carlisle
1900 Sketch and Sip café — food/drink and chat/session.
Saturday 7th February
0900 Carlisle Cathedral Fratry undercroft (just next to the café) — chat/play/plan programme for afternoon concert (all taborers repertoire music is here, also Jouissance Vous Donneray Orchesographie pages and music). Possibly play outside in the garden if fine (food/drink, including breakfast, will be available from the café next door). Attendees will also be able to look round the cathedral, including viewing the excellent carving of a taborer.
There will also be a farmers’ market taking place in the grounds of the castle. See https://carlislecathedral.org.uk/farmers-market/
1330 Carlisle Cathedral — 45 minute concert.
1500 Carlisle Castle — play in open space outside the castle if fine, otherwise under cover. Joined by Carlisle Clog And Sword and Solway Morris. (I’m hoping to get permission to play inside the castle without having to pay to get in.)
1530 walking tour (weather permitting) Bitts Park/Cracker Packers statue/ Joined by Carlisle Clog And Sword and Solway Morris.
1800 Sportsman Inn — food/drink and chat/session.
Sunday 8th February
1000 Cakes and Ale Café — food/drink and chat/session.
1500 End.
*NB if you arrive in Lancaster by train and would like to leave your luggage at Rebecca’s house, near the railway station, you are welcome to do so.
Rebecca says: “If you are coming by car, you may like to borrow a visitor’s parking permit from me and park near my house, which is not far from the castle. I have 2 permits, so let me know if you would like to borrow one.”