| Where: | Lymm, Cheshire- Dancing all around centre of the village, Procession starting at the Lower Dam, then the Dingle and ending at St Mary's Church for a short service |
| When: | Sunday nearest August 12th |
| Time: | Dancing from 2.30, Procession at 4pm & Service approx 4.30 |
Lymm is one of the few locations in which the once-common custom of rush bearing still takes place. Back in the days when churches had cold earth floors, the annual renewal of rushes on the floor for cleanliness and warmth became an occasion for celebration. Most of the surviving customs are in the northwestern corner of England and some involve rushcarts and flower covered bearings. At Lymm, as well as the Thelwall Morris Dancers in their incarnation as Lymm Morris, resplendent in their flower bedecked hats, you can expect to see a procession including local WI members, councillors and civic officials and members of the Youth Club all carrying rushes and garlands to the church, where a special service follows with appropriate and well-known hymns. The parish church is dedicated to St Mary, so the festival is held near her feast-day in August. Before the procession you can catch the dancers performing at locations around the village centre – listen out for the music and you’ll easily find them.
Helpful Hints
In 2025 it should be on Sunday 10th August (to be confirmed).
All are welcome and we had a very enjoyable afternoon when we visited in 2019 – the whole event has a very friendly atmosphere and it’s a pretty location for photos.
Click here for Thelwall Morris Men : http://www.thelwallmorris.org.uk
and here for Lymm Morris’ Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LymmMorris/
Very sad to hear that the rushbearing for 2016 is not to take place. This year I intended to visit the event myself.
Garry Stringfellow
Sowerby Bridge Rushbearing Association
Thanks Garry, I didn’t know about the cancellation til now. It’s a pity – and for “bureaucratic reasons” doesn’t sound very hopeful for the future. We were planning a visit next year so I’ll be keeping an eye on the news about it – let us know if you hear anything!
Best Wishes,
Averil
It wasn’t cancelled they just walked past our place!
Well that’s very strange! Just a few days ago I altered the entry on calendarcustoms because I was told it was cancelled – and it still says it’s cancelled on the organisers’ own website at http://www.thelwallmorris.org.uk !! I emailed them about it when I altered the article, to ask if it’ll be on next year, but haven’t had a reply as yet…if I get one I’ll inquire about why they said it was cancelled if it wasn’t…all very mysterious…
Just been looking at the following article which explains what happened: http://www.warrington-worldwide.co.uk/2016/08/14/morris-men-keep-ancient-tradition-of-lymm-rushbearing-alive/
So the official event was indeed cancelled but a small number of dancers did a mini version to keep the tradition going for the year which must have been what you saw, Neil. Thought you’d be interested! Let’s hope the full version gets the go-ahead for next time.
I write as the organiser of Lymm Rushbearing for over 40 years. We have had 2 years “off” due to issues with road closures.
May I confirm that the date is 12th August this year. In recent years the date has the second Sunday in August, albeit historically it has taken place on different days.
We will gather near the Lower Dam at 4pm and walk up the Dingle, and later gather again near the Dam on the grassy area under St Marys church before a short service at about 4.30pm.
That’s really good news Christopher – thanks for confirming the date and route. If it wasn’t for a wedding in the family I’d be joining you this year – maybe next time 🙂
Best wishes and thanks again,
Averil