Warning

 You have now entered the

 'Realm of the Beasts'

To proceed further, you must be two years of age or over, believe in Santa Claus

and consider it perfectly normal to stroke, cuddle and talk to blocks of wood.

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Knotty, our latest beast, visiting his ancestor
at Betley Court in 1999

Ken Tattersall putting Dobbin
through his paces in the '80s

Morris dancers are often accompanied by "Characters" like The Fool, The Tallager, The Cake Bearer, "Molly" or "Betty".

They may also be accompanied by a variety of "Beasts".

In recent times Stafford Morris has been accompanied by two rather nice equine specimens and one rather frightening cockerel.

The beasts of Staffordshire go back a long way and we have quite a lot of information about them, thanks to some larger than life human characters who gave life to their beasts, and some diligent historians.

The Horses

 
'Betley'

This beast is probably the most famous Hobby Horse with Staffordshire connections. He is depicted Centre Stage on the "Betley Window", which had origins about the time of King Henry VIII.
'Bromley'

Not far from Stafford is the village of Abbots Bromley, where the famous Horn Dance takes place in September. Amongst the dancers you will find the Hobby Horse.
Another beast with a long pedigree.
'Blind Peter's Horse'

In the late 1500s we know that a man called Blind Peter (Hales), who played the Pipe and Tabor, was abroad in Stafford with his Hobby Horse, collecting money for the Church. (When he wasn't being prosecuted for running a "disorderly tippling house" in the town.)
Dobbin

Created in the 1980s by Ken and Ethel Tattersall, this very friendly horse came with Stafford Men on many outings. He still comes out occasionally, but regrettably not with his famous rider who passed away in 1995.
Knotty

Our latest Beast was created by Jeff and Petula Miller in 1996, as Dobbin was getting a bit frail. Knotty is a handsome fellow with a wooden head, superbly carved by Geof Bradley (of Stafford Folk Dance Club). For the past couple of years John Edwards has had the honour of riding this beast and last year they were given accredited Membership of the Illustrious Order of the Fools and Beasts.

The Poultry

The Cock  In the eighties a Mega Chicken appeared with Stafford Morris courtesy of Roger Boydon. This beast was some seven feet tall and was a 'Hooden-horse' type animal where you cannot see the human occupant, unlike the horses which are all "Saddle", or "Tourney" horses, where the rider can be seen.

 

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Dobbin (this time under the command of John Edwards) and Terry Carter (in the character of Blind Peter Hales) outside the Ancient High House in the centre of Stafford in 1996.

They were seeking to re-create the scene, which was recorded 400 years earlier
when Peter (who also played the Pipe and Tabor) played for the Stafford Hobby Horse
to dance and collect for the church funds.
The picture above made the cover of 'Insite' the works magazine of GEC ALSTHOM (now ALSTOM), where John is the Quality Manager, under the title of "What our managers get up to in their spare time" !

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The badge of office of accredited members of the

Illustrious order of the Fools and Beasts

awarded to John and Knotty in 1998
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