Lancashire & Cheshire
Although wooden soled footwear can be traced back for
hundreds of years the steps we know today probably started
to appear in Lancashire when agricultural workers left the
land for employment in the factories and barges of the
industrial revolution. Here the rhythms of looms and
engines inspired the workers to beat time with their loose
clogs.
Teams of men dancing together resulted in the Clog Morris
traditions of Lancashire and Cheshire but step clog is
essentially a solo dance - often danced competitively,
usually for a 'belt' and sometimes a cash prize.
The factory and street corner steps soon migrated to the
stage and many Variety artistes were known to do a bit of
clogging, best known is probably Charlie Chaplin who is
reputed to have performed the 'Seven Lancashire Steps' in
Leeds.