EDC.Festival 2023.NHD.the apparitions...

Early Dance Circle Festival

Norwich Historical Dance did not take part in the 2024 EDC Festival but intend to do so again in 2025 when the Early Dance Circle Festival moves to Bury St. Edmunds.

The EDC Festival in 2023 was the 40th anniversary for the Early Dance Circle Festival and took place over the weekend of October 20th -22nd 2023 in Hereford Town Hall.

The theme was the loss of HMS Gloucester off the coast of Great Yarmouth in Norfolk on 6th May 1682 . On board is James, Duke of York, the future King James II. He is also pleased to have been re-instated as heir to the throne by his brother Charles ll after attempts to deny him (via ‘exclusion acts’) because of his Roman Catholicism. He is on his way to Edinburgh to collect his pregnant wife Mary and return with her to London to enjoy court life once more.

NHD start of performance at Hereford 2023. EDC Festival — The Duke of York calls for ‘Mr.Isaac’s Maggot’ to be danced on HMS Gloucester

Officers are celebrating their recent naval success over the Dutch,

NHD. at EDC.Festival Hereford. 2023 — HMS Gloucester passengers and James, Duke of York dance the night away to Mr. Isaac’s Maggot

The ship is full of his retinue, including at least one aristocratic relative and several dukes etc., plus sailors from the war – probably overloaded in fact, which may explain Pepys’ decision to accompany them in another boat.

EDC.Fest.Hereford.10.23..NHD.0231. Row well ye mariners — The crew set to work to the tune of ‘Row Well Ye Mariners’ little suspecting the tragedy to come.

EDC.Fest.Hereford.10.23..NHD.0233B. Arguments by the officers ... — The Duke and the Officers and the Pilot argue over the best course past the sandbanks off the Norfolk coast.

In the early hours of 6 May 1682, panic spread through the estimated 330 passengers and crew of HMS Gloucester. At around 5.30am the warship had run aground on a sandbank off the coast of Great Yarmouth in Norfolk. HMS Gloucester crashed at speed into the Leman and Ower sandbanks, located some 45km off Great Yarmouth.

EDC.Fest.Hereford.10.23..NHD.0236, The Duke of York makes his escape — The Duke of York makes his escape from the ship leaving the majority of those left behind to die in the North Sea

Within an hour, the ship had sunk. James however was reluctant to abandon ship. Even when he finally agreed to leave the vessel, he prolonged his departure by attempting to rescue his strongbox, thought to contain his memoirs and political documents. James survived, but an estimated 130 to 250 people lost their lives.

James, Duke of York Dances Pell Mell — James, Duke of York, joins the dance “Pell Mell”, carrying his croquet mallet

James arrives in London and enjoys court life.

EDC.Fest.Hereford.10.23..NHD.0237. Pall Mall — The Duke of York back home in London dances Pall Mall, named after his favourite game of Pell Mell, a a version of Croquet.

The finale comes with the ghostly return of those who died on that fateful night.

EDC.Fest.Hereford.10.23..NHD.0260. Mr.Isaacs Maggot reprise — Mr. Isaac’s Maggot reprise by the ghosts of HMS Gloucester

The Duke sits transfixed by the images from his past.

EDC.Fest.Hereford.10.23..NHD.0259. Mr.Isaac's Maggot. Reprise — The ghostly crew of the Gloucester reprise Mr.Isaac’s Maggot

In 2007 diving brothers Lincoln and Julian Barnwell found what they believed to be the wreck of the Gloucester. However, the discovery was only made public in June 2022 following the ship’s formal identification.

EDC.Fest.Hereford.10.23.NHD.0264. The finding of the Gloucester and recovery of artefacts — The Diver appears from the depths of the sand bank to show off the artefacts recovered from the Wreck found again in 2007

More photos of NHD dancers from festival can be seen here: Early-Dance-Circle-Festival