Rushcarts of the north-west of England

The former use of rushes for covering floors in private houses and churches is well known. Their purpose was twofold: to cover unsightly floors and to keep feet warm, particularly in churches, during the winter. Once a year, on the patronal feast, the old rushes were removed from the churches and new ones brought in, often with rejoicing and procession. Since the rushes were cut only when fully grown, their maturity governed the time when the church cleansing took place, which, in the north-west of England, usually occurred in late summer

Ancient history · Archaeology · Geography · Procession · Historical Architecture and Urbanism · Historical Art and Culture Studies · History · Scottish History and National Identity