The sun shines on Rushbearing Festival

Date published: 27 July 2008


This weekend saw the annual Rushbearing Festival take place in Littleborough. Saturday saw the Morris dancers assembled at the King William IV pub at Shore for drinks and dancing.

The Rushcart then continued down Shore Road to St Barnabas’ Church where the blessing of the rushes took place.

After the church service, there was Morris dancing at the Caldermoor Inn and Littleborough Town Square. The procession continued to Harehill Park where a range of activities took place throughout the day.

On Sunday morning, the festivities continued with the Rushcart leaving Rakewood Rugby Club and continuing towards Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre and The Wine Press where the crowds were entertained with Morris Dancing from various groups including the Earl of Stamford Morris, Rochdale Morris and Black Bull Border Morris.

The Rushcart then headed down towards Waterside/Ealees, and continued on to Littleborough Town Square.

In Littleborough Town Square, various activities went on throughout the afternoon including a Samba Band and Littleborough Band performance, and more Morris Dancing.
Rushbearing originated when the floors of most buildings – even churches – were earthen, and the commonest floor covering was rushes. Parish churches had there rushes provided by local parishioners, who cut them and carried them in procession to the church. In the South Pennine districts it became traditional for the rushes to be transported to the Parish church on decorated carts. Littleborough Rushbearing was revived in 1991 by Rochdale Morris and Keith Parry and Littleborough Action Group.

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