| Where: | Whitworth, Lancashire starting at North Street opposite the Whitworth Vale and Healey Band Club |
| When: | Sunday in early September |
| Time: | 12 noon onwards with Procession 1pm |
Whitworth Rushcart is one of a clutch of customs in the North West involving a large wheeled vehicle covered in rushes and flowers accompanied by morris dancers and music as it perambulates the locality – what makes this event unique is that the decoration is based on heather grown on the moors nearby. The origins of the Rushcart are similar to the tradition of rushbearing which survives in Cumbia, but which have evolved in a different way. Rushes were gathered for strewing on the church floor and a boundary-walking processional element was common. The Rushbearing at Whitworth was revived in the twentyfirst century after a long break and is now a well established part of the local calendar. On the second Sunday in September the cart is paraded through town by Whitworth Rushcart Dancers with a brass band accompaniment, before morris dancing at the carpark by the Civic Hall. At the end of the procession you can buy bunches of lucky heather from the basket at the back of the cart. There are stalls and entertainments at the carpark, after which the Rushcart Dancers host a music session at the Band Club. The event is organised by the Whitworth Council’s Tourism & Leisure Committee.
Helpful Hints
In 2025 it was on Sunday 7th September- 2026 date is yet to be confirmed but likely to be 6th. Food & drink will be available, and a singing session follows into the evening.
Click here for the event Facebook pages : https://www.facebook.com/groups/318025781616548/
and here for the Council : http://www.whitworth.gov.uk/
The 2014 will be on Sunday 7th not the 14th September
Thanks for letting me know, Mark!
I’ve amended the date on the website – will double check next years date with you if that’s OK before I put it up on the page.
Best wishes,
Averil
Hi Averil,
The 2017 Whitworth Rushcart will be on Sunday 3rd September. We have changed our name from the Whitworth Rushcart Men to the Whitworth Rushcart Dancers to reflect our now mix of men and women dancers. We hope the increased size of the dance team will allow us to do one of our big processional dances not seen for many years, fingers crossed !
Hi Mark,
Thanks for the update – I’ll get the new details on the site asap. I expect other sides will need to follow your example now that there are lots of mixed-sex groups where it seems wrong to describe all as “men”. Hope it all goes according to plan!
Averil
Hi Averil,
Whitworth Rushcart will be on Sunday 4th September 2022, fingers, legs and everything else crossed. Not sure have good the dancing will be after two years off but very much looking forward to meeting up again.
Hi Mark,
Thanks for the date – I’ll get that up on the site straightaway! I expect everyone will be so pleased when it goes ahead (and yes everything crossed) that they won’t be too critical about a missed step or two in the dancing 🙂
Best wishes,
Averil
Just to confirm Whitworth Rushcart will be on Sunday 3rd of September 2023. Dancers and musicians meet in Whitworth Vale and Healey Band Club from 1200hrs. Procession sets off at 1300hrs from North Street opposite the club for The Ashcroft civic centre for an afternoon of dance, brass band, rides, stalls and food. About 1630hrs we return for a music and singing session well into the evening.
Hi Mark,
Thanks for the confirmation! Hope you get some sunshine for it, fingers crossed,
Best wishes,
Averil
Hi all. Just to say I visited this on Sunday for one of my round-calendar customs. Took a number of photos, but card is faulty and lost them all! The procession started from the Whitworth Heritage Museum at 1pm, then headed north for about a mile to The Ashworth Council Offices, where there is dancing and a fun fair. How long it was they stayed there I don’t know because I came away about 1.45pm.
Thanks Tim- sounds like the route has changed a bit so I’ll tweak the post. That was bad luck with your photos- what a pity!
Best wishes,
Averil
Hi Averil,
I can confirm that Whitworth Rushcart will be on Sunday 7th September 2025. Procession start time of 1300hrs leaving North Street opposite Whitworth Vale and Healey Band Club which is open from 1200hrs and welcomes all. It is worth noting that our cart is thatched with heather that is in bloom at this time of year.
Hi Mark
Many thanks for the confirmation!
Best wishes
Averil