HEADS were turning in Lymm at the sight of an eccentric group that included, among others, St George, a Turk, a mad doctor, Beelzebub and a groom leading a three-legged horse.
It was of course the Warburton Soulers going from venue to venue to perform the traditional souling play.
Typically they arrive unannounced in the village pubs for their 15 minute show but this year, for the first time, they added Lymm Heritage centre to their itinerary.
“It has been so good to get back out there after last year’s enforced break,” explained the soulers’ master of ceremonies Laurence Armstrong. “We did particularly want to include the Heritage Centre as they have done so much to raise awareness of what is, after all, Lymm’s oldest tradition by far. The play only survives in Cheshire these days though its origins and can be traced back to medieval times”.
Lymm Heritage Centre hopes to make the visit an annual affair.
You can find more about this fascinating tradition at Lymm Heritage Centre or on the website at https://www.lymmhic.co.uk/soulcaking
