Cadger's Bridge

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

CADGER'S BRIDGE (R6x32) 6C set Barry Priddey Capercaillie Book
2 chords - 2nd chord 4s and 5s and 6s cross to opposite sides

1- 8 1s+2s+3s also 6s+5s+4s dance RSh reels of 3 on sides:
To start: 1M dances across to pass 2L RSh, 1L crosses down, passing 2M RSh
At end: 1M crosses up from 2nd place opposite side, pull back RSh to face in, 1L dances across from 1st place opposite side to original place facing out
6s dance similarly with 5s+4s. 3L+4L finish facing out
9-12 1s+2s also 3s+4s also 5s+6s dance RH across
13-16 1s and 6s cast in 1 place and ½ turn partner LH into prom hold, while 2s and 5s dance to ends and set, while 3s+4s dance LH across
17-24 1s set to 3L and 6s set to 4L, 1s set to 6s, 1s set to 3M and 6s set to 4M, 1s set to 6s and face partner while 3s and 4s set to partners and face up/down
25-32 1s+3s+4s+6s dance 6 changes of Grand Chain (1 bar per hand), 1s and 6s full turn RH while 3s and 4s cross RH. 236(1)(4)(5)

(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)

Dance Information

Cadger's Bridge, a stone arch footbridge (c. 13th century) spans the Biggar Burn beside the war memorial in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.

It is said that William Wallace (Scottish knight and landowner known for leading the resistance during the Wars of Scottish Independence), disguised as a cadger (hawker), crossed this bridge in 1297 to spy on the English.

Cadger's brig, Biggar

Image copyright Adam Sommerville under this Creative Commons Licence 2.0.

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