. Rush-bearing: an account of the old custom of strewing rushes; carrying rushes to church; the rush-cart; garlands in churches; morris-dancers; the wakes; the rush. drawnby nine gaily-trapped horses. The rush-stack was anexceedingly large one, weighing about three tons. Atthe top were seated two men, who were surrounded bygreen boughs and Union Jacks, whilst in front was afine display of silver cups, plates, etc. Behind the cartwere several men with boxes for contributions fromthe spectators. At times the streets were completelyblocked by the crowd of sightseers. Droylsdens rush-cart was alwa
. Rush-bearing: an account of the old custom of strewing rushes; carrying rushes to church; the rush-cart; garlands in churches; morris-dancers; the wakes; the rush. drawnby nine gaily-trapped horses. The rush-stack was anexceedingly large one, weighing about three tons. Atthe top were seated two men, who were surrounded bygreen boughs and Union Jacks, whilst in front was afine display of silver cups, plates, etc. Behind the cartwere several men with boxes for contributions fromthe spectators. At times the streets were completelyblocked by the crowd of sightseers. Droylsdens rush-cart was always fabricated atGreenside, and in 1793, John Wood, of Clayton HallFarm, provided rushes, waggon, and eight stump-tailed horses to draw it from that hamlet to complete brass bands were then in existence, but,by gleaning in Gorton, Manchester, and other places,an extemporised company of instrumentalists wasformed. Owing to dissensions in 1817, a rush-cartwas made at the White Hart, in opposition to theorthodox pageant at Greenside. The rush-cart manu-factured in Droylsden in 1855, perambulated thevillage, and patronised Manchester, but did not visit. THE RUSH-CART. 57 Newton at all. In a waggon or cart was constructeda coned and symmetrical pyramid, faced with bolts ofgreen rushes, and filled up with dried ones, and wasdecorated with ribbons, flowers, and a glittering displayof silver plate. The procession was headed by thechapel garland.* From the MS., published and unpublished, of thelate John Higson, we are enabled to gather manyparticulars of the rush-bearing at Gorton, a villagenear Manchester, long celebrated for its breed of bull-dogs, its sturdy men, and its wakes. In 1775, theOpenshaw rush-bearing to Gorton Chapel was discon-tinued. About 1780, the rush-cart went out on theFriday before the first Sunday in September, perambu-lating the village, visiting Mr. Grimshaws, High Bank,and also the locality of Gorton Brook. On that night,or Saturday morning, the rushe
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