Pett De Bois

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1-4 1st and 2nd couples, also 3rd and 4th couples, each dance mirror set and link:
 All set.
 1st and 4th couples cast inwards as 2nd and 3rd couples dance out to the nearest end, briefly touching nearer hands.
5-8 1st and 4th couples each dance back to back, but end in the centre, facing their partner with both hands joined.
9-16 1st and 4th couples dance a modified Poussette:
 Bars 1-5: Both couples dance the first five bars of the standard Poussette ending in the centre. As 4th couple are on opposite sides both men start out to the side behind them. They may prefer to start with the right foot which avoids a foot change later.
 Bar 6: Both couples quarter turn (still setting), pulling right shoulder back to end on the centre line. 4th man and 1st woman face down, 4th woman and 1st man face up.
 Bars 7-8: Both couples, using skip change, dance a small loop out to the side on their right, starting by dancing up or down, passing their partner left shoulder, then curving to their right to face out in the other direction: up on the men's side and down on the women's side (this is similar to the alternation at each end of the following reels). The order is now 2,4,1,3 with 1st and 3rd couples on opposite sides.
17-24 4th man followed by 1st woman, and 1st man followed by 4th woman, dance alternating tandem reels of three on the men's and women's sides respectively, starting right shoulder to 2nd and 3rd men.
25-32 All circle eight hands round to the left and back. The final order is 2,4,1,3 with 1st and 3rd couples on opposite sides.

(Dance crib compiled by the deviser, Murrough Landon, CC BY-SA August 2024)

Keith Rose's Crib Diagram

Pett De Bois - Full Size And Key To Symbols

Dance Instruction Videos

Dance Information

Recommended music: Suggested tune: The Shetland Fiddler (P/M Donald Shaw Ramsay) or any good reel; suitable recording The Hills of Alba (Colin Dewar and his SDB: A' the best fae Banffshire); suitable recording NB the suggested tune is only on The Hills of Alba recording with a single chord.

(Dance information by the deviser, Murrough Landon, CC BY-SA August 2024)

It was originally rural woodland first recorded in the late 16th century as land belonging to the Pett family, who supplied timber for shipbuilding. Its transformation into a garden suburb began in the late 1920s, when developer Basil Scruby planned and constructed housing and paid for a railway station to support commuters.

The remaining woodland, approximately 88 acres initially, was preserved through public subscription and donated to a national conservation body in 1927. In the 1950s, additional nearby woodland-Hawkwood and Edlmann Wood-totalling around 250 acres, was also donated and added to the preserved green area. These woodlands are managed as a mix of ancient woodland and grazing pasture, featuring tree species such as oak, birch, alder, hornbeam and sweet chestnut, and supporting diverse wildlife including fungi, birds, and small mammals.

Petts Wood railway station opened in July 1928 on the South Eastern Main Line, providing four platforms and frequent services to central London terminals like Charing Cross, Cannon Street, Victoria and London Bridge. It lies in Travelcard Zone 5 and today includes step-free access. Bus routes further connect the area to neighbouring districts.

The town features a mix of shopping and community facilities, including a pub built in 1935 named in honour of William Willett, a local campaigner credited with promoting daylight saving time. Other amenities include a country park established in 1977 to mark a royal jubilee, offering both grassland and woodland habitats that form part of a wider wildlife corridor. Petts Wood also supports a variety of sports and leisure amenities, such as cricket, football, croquet and tennis clubs.

Several churches built between the 1930s and 1960s reflect the area's growing residential character following suburban development. The community is also home to local landmarks like a memorial hall and public sundial, and is well connected to nearby green spaces and paths suitable for walking and outdoor recreation.

Today, Petts Wood is noted for its leafy ambience, strong transport links, and blend of natural and residential environments.

Path In Petts Wood

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