The "horns" are six sets of reindeer antlers, three white and three black. In 1976, a small splinter was radiocarbon dated to around 1065. Since there are not believed to have been any reindeer in England in the 11th century, the horns must have been imported from Scandinavia. However, it is equally mysterious as to why this should have been done and by whom. If the antlers were imported it must have been near the date of their growth-dropping. It is, therefore, just as likely that reindeer did survive somewhere in England at that period. The six sets of "horns" were formerly kept in the tower of St Nicholas Church, being hauled into position on the walls by ropes. In "recent years" (1920s-1930s) special brackets were provided for them in the Hurst Chapel in the church where they were mounted on wooden heads carved by village craftsmen. The horns were brought from Constantinople (present day Istanbul) by Lord Paget, who was British Ambassador to Turkey in the 18th century, but the original horns went back centuries before that, it being surmised that they date from a time when there were reindeer in this country. The heaviest of the horns is 36 pounds and one of the horns has 36 points. The antlers are mounted on small heads carved from wood. Since 1981, the horns are legally the property of Abbots Bromley Parish Council. For 364 days a year, they are on display in St Nicholas Church. They were once kept in the main Village Hall, which is now the Goat's Head Inn, beside the Butter Cross. An alternative set of antlers (red deer) are kept to use when the dancers are asked, as they frequently are, to perform outside the parish boundaries. Dance The dance itself is simple, since the antlers themselves have some weight to them and are large and bulky. As described by Cecil Sharp in 1911, there are ten figures in the dance; six dancers bearing the horns, Maid Marian, the Hobby-horse, Boy with bow and arrow, and the Fool. He describes the circular dance as being done with the participants in a single line; however, it is currently performed with the dancers in a double column. Music Cecil Sharp gives two versions of the music. In his 1911 written description of the dance Sharp says he saw it being performed to "Yankee Doodle" and another simple