The Queer Spirit Group will be holding a drumming circle to celebrate the lives of gay and bi men who came before us, in the 1710s, and would use what were then called "Molly Houses" bawdy taverns where samesex dancing was permitted.
This month, London's Radical Faeries and Queer Spirits community will convene at Wheatsheaf Hall in south London for a drum circle dedicated to the city's deep queer history. The event, timed just before the final full moon of winter in Virgo, will specifically commemorate the 1726 police raids on London's Molly Houses.
In February of that year, a series of raids led to arrests, trials, and the execution of three men. The gathering aims to "meet the spirit of the Mollies," celebrating a queer subculture that was already vibrant and well-established over 300 years ago. Venue details are Wheatsheaf Hall, Wheatsheaf Lane off South Lambeth Road, London SW8 2UP.
A Formed Subculture Exposed
Historical accounts describe a flourishing scene. Establishments like Mother Clap's Molly House in Holborn served as regular meeting places, or 'clubs', where men socialised under 'maiden' nicknames, danced together, and enjoyed festival nights that sometimes involved drag. They even used a specialised slang.
This world was exposed largely through the efforts of moral reform groups, most notably the Society for the Reformation of Manners. As historian Rictor Norton notes, much of what is known about this period comes from the records of such societies, whose members often infiltrated the houses. Their active surveillance and entrapment, led by figures like Reverend William Bray, defined the early 18th-century legal persecution of the community.
Norton points out that after the Society disbanded in 1738 following scandal, documented evidence of the subculture becomes scarcer—not because it disappeared, but because organised groups ceased their zealous efforts to expose it.
Gathering Details
The Faerie gathering will begin from 7pm for socialising and setting up the space, with a circle cast around 8pm. The evening will centre on drumming, dance, and community. Drums and percussion will be provided, though attendees are welcome to bring their own instruments, snacks to share, and their own drinks.
Participants are enthusiastically invited to dress to express their "Faerie or indeed MOLLY spirit." A donation of £5-£10 is requested to cover venue costs, payable in cash or via PayPal, with a firm policy that no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Queer Spirit Full Moon Drum Circle MOLLY BALL
Saturday February 28th, 7 - 11pm
Wheatsheaf Hall, Wheatsheaf Lane off South Lambeth Road, London SW8 2UP
