Janet Blunt
Encyclopedia
Janet Blunt was a folklorist.
Daughter of a British general, she spent her first thirty years in India
. She then moved to Adderbury
in Oxfordshire
where she became interested in local folk traditions. Her primary contribution to folklore is her preservation of the Adderbury traditions of folk song and dance, particularly Morris dancing
. Morris dance was common in the area in the early 19th century but disappeared by the late 1880s. It was revived in 1974 from the extensive notes made by Janet Blunt and Cecil Sharp
in 1916 and 1918.
The village of Adderbury commemorates Janet Blunt every year as part of its annual Morris festivities, and a blue plaque
was installed at Le Hall Place in Adderbury in 2009.
Daughter of a British general, she spent her first thirty years in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. She then moved to Adderbury
Adderbury
Adderbury is a large village and civil parish in northern Oxfordshire, England. It is about south of Banbury and from Junction 10 of the M40 motorway. The village is divided in two by the Sor Brook. The village consists of two neighbourhoods: West Adderbury and East Adderbury...
in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
where she became interested in local folk traditions. Her primary contribution to folklore is her preservation of the Adderbury traditions of folk song and dance, particularly 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...
. Morris dance was common in the area in the early 19th century but disappeared by the late 1880s. It was revived in 1974 from the extensive notes made by Janet Blunt and Cecil Sharp
Cecil Sharp
Cecil James Sharp was the founding father of the folklore revival in England in the early 20th century, and many of England's traditional dances and music owe their continuing existence to his work in recording and publishing them.-Early life:Sharp was born in Camberwell, London, the eldest son of...
in 1916 and 1918.
The village of Adderbury commemorates Janet Blunt every year as part of its annual Morris festivities, and a blue plaque
Blue plaque
A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person or event, serving as a historical marker....
was installed at Le Hall Place in Adderbury in 2009.