Rushbearing in Sowerby Bridge Yorkshire

Not really a 'past empire' but a fascinating revived folk custom.

The rushes were distributed by a cart to the parish churches to be strewn on the floor. The custom was well established by Tudor times but fell out of fashion when churches got flagged floors. At Saddleworth rushes were still used until 1826.

Here you see the cart hauled by men at the front and slowed by more at the rear, particularly when arriving at the bottom of the steep hills from the moors. The cart and the pullers with morris and clog dancers stop at the pubs on the way between the churches for refreshments!

Hidden behind the white tree with red, white and blue roses on the cart - was this a saint's image before the Reformation? - there is girl perched on the top of the rush pile!