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RUSHCART RUSHBEARING

The annual Littleborough Rushbearing Festival Rushbearing began in the 10th century when
weekend begins on a Saturday in July with a Pope Gregory decreed that rushes should be
procession from the King Bill before parading taken to church on its Saints Day to cover the
to St Barnabas’ Church for a blessing. earth floor for warmth.

From there, it moves on to Littleborough At Grasmere in Cumbria, the rushes are still
Square for morris dancing and ‘mumming’ carried, but in Lancashire and parts of Yorkshire
outside the Wheatsheaf Pub and onwards the procession became more elaborate with the
to Hare Hill Park for the final dances and a rushes being conveyed on decorated carts.
multitude of activities.
The tradition continued in many areas until
On Sunday, after dancing at The Wine Press the Victorian times when it was banned for
rushcart procession heads to The Waterside, encouraging ‘drunkenness and lewd behaviour’.
before parading to the Square and presenting
the rushes at Holy Trinity Church.

2019

Littleborough Rushbearing

OAKENHOOF

Littleborough Rushbearing was revived in 1991 by Rochdale Morris. The project was
successfully achieved with the help of Littleborough Action Group and has become an
important part of Littleborough’s calendar of events. It is now organised by Littleborough
Events and Associations Forum (LEAF) in conjunction with Littleborough Oakenhoof Cloggers.

REAL ROCHDALE - AUTUMN 2019 10 11 REAL ROCHDALE - AUTUMN 2019