BUCKNELL AND ITS HEY

One of the oldest photographs of a Cotswold morris side is the one taken by the Abingdon photographer Warland Andrew of the Bucknell men in the mid 1800's. It shows the side in opened out set formation with jo Powell, the pipe and tabourer, and collector in the middle.

If you take revivalist revivalist numbering following Sharp and Kimber, Eli Rolfe the leader is standing in no.2's position when you would expect him to be on the opposite side of Jo Powell.

An alternative system of numbering used by other sides e.g. Longborough is to use the terms nearside for the odds and offside for the evens and for the position in the file, foremost middle or middlemost and hindermost. Those sides using this system of reference it was practice for the Squire or Rodney to dance nearside hindermost c.f. Harry Taylor at Longborough and others. If as would be most likely the side is standing in this formation, then Eli Rolfe is standing in no.5's position. The photogragh is taken from the top of the set with the top couple standing at either end of the line with the musician and collector turned round to face the camera.