Musicians, Mummers and Morris

I managed a couple of hours gardening this morning before the heavens opened and put an end to summer.

The torrential rain didn't manage to dampen the spirits of the folk down in Sowerby Bridge who were celebrating the annual Rushbearing Festival.

Effectively a three-day pub crawl interspersed with music and dancing, the tradition dates back several centuries to the time when the stone flags on church were covered with rushes over the winter.

Over the course of the weekend, the procession winds its was through seven local  towns and villages visiting many churches and hostelries along the way. The focal point of the procession is the sixteen feet high, two-wheeled,  decorated and thatched rushcart. A team of young ladies take turns to ride on top of the cart as it is pulled by sixty local men dressed in Panama hats, white shirts, black trousers and clogs. Accompanying them are a groups of supporters in Edwardian dress along with musicians, mummers and morris dancing teams.