The Highclere Red House

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 8 1s+2s also 3s+4s dance mirror Set and Link (1s cast, 2s dance up), end couples cast in as middle couples dance to ends. Repeat to original place
9-14 2M and 3M dance ½ Fig of 8 out nearest end and cross to original place while 3L and 2L cast to furthest end and follow 2M/3M by crossing over and casting round 1L/4L to exchanged places
15-16 2s+3s dance ½ LH across
17-22 2s and 3s repeat bars 9-14 now with 2L and 3L dancing ½ Fig of 8 and crossing while 2M and 3M cast to furthest end, cross over and cast
23-24 2s+3s ½ RH across
25-32 1s reel with 2M on Men's side while 4s reel with 3M on Ladies' side (Men pass LSh as 1L and 4L cross to pass partner RSh. 1L and 4L end in own place and Men have exchanged places)
33-40 1s reel with 2L on Ladies' side while 4s reel with 3W on Men's side (Ladies pass RSh as 1M and 4M cross to pass partner LSh). 31(4)(2)

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

1- 4 1st and 2nd couples, also 3rd and 4th couples, each dance mirror Set and Link:
 all set, then the end couples cast in one place while the middle couples dance out to the nearest end and (optionally) curve into place.
5- 8 All repeat bars 1-4 ending in their original places.
9-14 2nd and 3rd men each dance half a figure of eight out of the nearest end, through 1st and 4th couples, then cross over to where they started, curving left to face anticlockwise.
 Meanwhile 3rd and 2nd women cast to the furthest end, dance right shoulder round 1st and 4th men, then following 2nd and 3rd men, cross over and cast in one place.
15-16 2nd and 3rd couples dance half left hands across. 2nd and 3rd men have now exchanged places, but 2nd and 3rd women have returned to their original places.
17-22 2nd and 3rd couples dance a reflected version of bars 9-14 with the women leading their partners:
 2nd and 3rd women dance half a figure of eight out through 1st and 4th couples then cross over while 2nd and 3rd men cast to the furthest end, cross over and cast in.
23-24 2nd and 3rd couples dance half right hands across.
 The order is now 1,3,2,4 with 2nd and 4th couples on opposite sides. 3rd and 2nd men face in and towards the ends.
25-32 1st couple with 3rd man, also 4th couple with 2nd man, each dance Red House reels. The pairs of men start by passing left shoulder as 1st and 4th women cross diagonally to the middle of the opposite side to join the six bar reels of three on the sides. On the last two bars 1st and 4th women cross back to their original places facing out as the pairs of men pass left shoulder again to change places. 1st and 4th men are now in 2nd and 3rd places on their original side.
33-40 1st couple with 3rd woman, also 4th couple with 2nd woman, each dance Red House reels. The pairs of women start by passing right shoulder as 1st and 4th men cross over to the middle of the opposite side to join the reels. On the last two bars 1st and 4th men cross back to their progressed places as the pairs of women pass right shoulder again to change places.
 The final order is 3,1,4,2 with 4th and 2nd couples on opposite sides.

(Dance crib compiled by the deviser, Murrough Landon, CC BY-SA September 2025)

Dance Notes

Diagrams (Music At The Bottom)

Dance Instruction Videos

Dance Information

This was the first SCD website I discovered, before being captured by the Strathspey Database (SCDDB). The Dictionary contains a wealth of useful information which is outside the scope of SCDDB. Our community is very well served by having both sites.

In July 2025 I had the opportunity to visit the Newbury group where Reuben dances. Their venue is in the village of Highclere, a long way out of town. I chose to spend the day walking in the countryside before having supper at the recommended local pub. This is called The Highclere Red House, a name which prompted this variation of one of the oldest dances in the SCD repertoire.

Recommended music: Suggested tune Red House (traditional).
Suitable recording: Tricky! There is only one 4x40 recording of Red House on Eighteen of the Best by the BBC which seems to be unavailable. And none of the Red House recordings has two chords. So either start with 3rd and 4th couples already crossed over and use four (or more) repeats of any Red House recording. Or use any another 4x40 reel with two chords.
Lastly, although Stefan Schatz felt there were some imperfections in his live music for the video, at least partly due to one or two sticky keys on the piano, the sound track is 4x40 with two chords.

(Dance information by the deviser, Murrough Landon, CC BY-SA August 2025)

By the nineteenth century it was recognised as a Victorian inn, with its ground floor adapted into a single bar space. Such inns were common along rural routes, providing food, drink, and lodging, and the Red House became a familiar landmark in the village.

The building retains traditional features including timber beams and a central bar area, with later additions such as beams decorated with banknotes and photographs. Records show the pub has remained in operation under successive landlords, and since 2008 it has been managed independently by Simon and Katie. Its location near Highclere Castle (1.5km away as the crow flies) has contributed to its visibility, particularly in recent years when the castle became widely known as the filming site for "Downton Abbey".

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