Cash, Sammy

Clog dancer from Nelson, Lancashire. Probably born in Manchester in 1894, living at 11 Giles St, Nelson, with his parents in 1911.

One of Julian Pilling’s main informants, from whom he collected step notations and some background material in 1959. This information was later published in: Pilling, J., “The Lancashire Clog Dance”, Folk Music Journal, 1.3, 158-179.

Flett MSS Correspondence I.31

Sammy Cash was well-known as a dancer in and around Nelson, where he often danced in pubs. He on occasion when unemployed went busking in London. He had learned at an Academy of Dancing at Blackleym, Manchester when he was young.

He taught Pilling seven steps which were “recommended for beginners”. The steps have been notated in Newcastle Notation and are available here.

Julian Pilling was filmed by Roy Dommett on Sunday 6th September 1964 at the Durham Ring Meeting, run by the Morris Ring. The dance was filmed without music, but serves to resolve many of the issues with the published notations.


Information derived from notes of an interview with Sam Cash by Julian Pilling 1959, the article Pilling, J., “The Lancashire Clog Dance”, Folk Music Journal, 1.3, 158-179, the 1911 census and a letter to Tom Flett 18/7/1960.