Whitworth Rushcart Procession

Photo: Mike Burgess

Whitworth Rushcart procession and celebrations

2 More Image(s) In Gallery

The annual Whitworth Rushcart celebrations took place on Sunday 3 September, and despite being the wettest Rushcart in memory did not dampen the spirit as dancers and locals alike braved the weather.

The procession left from Whitworth Museum featuring numerous traditional morris dance troupes, including the famous Britannia Coconutters and the Whitworth Morris Men led by the rushcart.

Whitworth’s Rushcart history goes back hundreds of years; initially the celebration was linked into the cutting and collection of rushes to be strewn on the bare earth or stone flagged floor of the church as a form of insulation for the winter to come, taken to the church on the cart.

Out of this grew a celebration which was enjoyed by the whole community.

In the 1970s and 1980s the rushcart was the highlight of the Whitworth Fair week.

In recent times the week-long festivities have passed into history, however the popularity of the rushcart in Whitworth is strong.

The rushcart now takes place on a Sunday afternoon each September rather than its traditional Friday night slot, and has become more family-focused.

This year, dancers were joined by a new group, the Hebden Bridge Hill Millies. A women's morris dancing troop dancing in the Cotswold tradition infused with their own special magic accompanied by a fantastic fiddler.

Whitworth Morris Dancers had recruited two new dancers and the Tourism and Leisure Committee were joined by several members of the local community who volunteered their services to help marshal and organise the event.

A spokesperson said: "The organisers wish to thank all our dancers and volunteers who made this event the success it was."