Horns of Ock St
Encyclopedia
The Horns of Ock Street are the insignia of the Abingdon
Traditional Morris Dancers
from the English
county of Oxfordshire
(formerly Berkshire
).
They date from 1700. The road from Abingdon
town centre to the North is called the Vineyard (because it passed through Abingdon Abbey
’s vineyard), that leading to the South, running parallel to the River Ock
is called Ock Street. Following a celebration, in 1700, when an ox was roasted on the marketplace in the town centre, the “Vineyard men” fought with the “Ock Street men” for possession of the ox's horns. The Ock Street men won.
Since then, the original Ock Street Horns, mounted in a carved wooden ox’s head emblazoned with the date 1700 have served as the insignia of Abingdon’s morris dancing
side, and also of the independent spirit and character of the inhabitants of Ock Street. By tradition the morris side (Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers) will not dance without the horns.
A public house called The Ock Street Horns traded for many years in Ock Street boasting a large pair of replica horns above its front door. On its closure in 1960 these were moved to another Ock Street public house, The White Horse, where they are now on display.
Abingdon, Oxfordshire
Abingdon or archaically Abingdon-on-Thames is a market town and civil parish in Oxfordshire, England. It is the seat of the Vale of White Horse district. Previously the county town of Berkshire, Abingdon is one of several places that claim to be Britain's oldest continuously occupied town, with...
Traditional Morris Dancers
Morris dance
Morris dance is a form of English folk dance usually accompanied by music. It is based on rhythmic stepping and the execution of choreographed figures by a group of dancers. Implements such as sticks, swords, handkerchiefs and bells may also be wielded by the dancers...
from the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
county of Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
(formerly Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
).
They date from 1700. The road from Abingdon
Abingdon, Oxfordshire
Abingdon or archaically Abingdon-on-Thames is a market town and civil parish in Oxfordshire, England. It is the seat of the Vale of White Horse district. Previously the county town of Berkshire, Abingdon is one of several places that claim to be Britain's oldest continuously occupied town, with...
town centre to the North is called the Vineyard (because it passed through Abingdon Abbey
Abingdon Abbey
Abingdon Abbey was a Benedictine monastery also known as St Mary's Abbey located in Abingdon, historically in the county of Berkshire but now in Oxfordshire, England.-History:...
’s vineyard), that leading to the South, running parallel to the River Ock
River Ock
The River Ock is a small English river which is a tributary of the River Thames. It has as its catchment area the Vale of White Horse, a low-lying and wide valley in South Oxfordshire and flows into the River Thames, at Abingdon on the reach above Culham Lock.-Course:The River Ock rises near the...
is called Ock Street. Following a celebration, in 1700, when an ox was roasted on the marketplace in the town centre, the “Vineyard men” fought with the “Ock Street men” for possession of the ox's horns. The Ock Street men won.
Since then, the original Ock Street Horns, mounted in a carved wooden ox’s head emblazoned with the date 1700 have served as the insignia of Abingdon’s morris dancing
Morris dance
Morris dance is a form of English folk dance usually accompanied by music. It is based on rhythmic stepping and the execution of choreographed figures by a group of dancers. Implements such as sticks, swords, handkerchiefs and bells may also be wielded by the dancers...
side, and also of the independent spirit and character of the inhabitants of Ock Street. By tradition the morris side (Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers) will not dance without the horns.
A public house called The Ock Street Horns traded for many years in Ock Street boasting a large pair of replica horns above its front door. On its closure in 1960 these were moved to another Ock Street public house, The White Horse, where they are now on display.