Whitworth Rushcart procession and celebrations brings out the crowds

Photo: Mr Mike Burgess

Whitworth 2018 Rushcart procession

The annual Whitworth Rushcart celebrations took place on Sunday and the sun shone and brought out the crowds in great numbers.

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 itself.

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 itself 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.

The dancers were joined by Persephone Morris who last danced in Whitworth back in 2009. The team are a North West processional morris side in a very distinctive kit where black predominates adding yellow and green as noticeable contrasts. The style is vigorous and precise. Many of their dances originate from the following of rushcarts.

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