File:The Saddleworth Morris Men - geograph.org.uk - 934377.jpg

Saddleworth is a valley in the Pennine hills between Manchester and Leeds, and each of the six villages in the valley has its own unique dance. Seen here during the annual Rushcart Festival the morris men prepare pull the rushcart,seen in the top right of the picture, along the High Street in Uppermill. Saddleworth Morris Men revived the Rushcart as an annual festival in 1975 to become the first of many in the area. The rushes are taken from the surrounding moors (with the blessing of the National Trust) and built onto a two-wheeled cart in a slightly conical shape thirteen feet high weighing about two tons (if it doesn't rain). 'Feathers' at each corner are formed from bolts or bundles of rushes each about four inches in diameter held in place by metal rods. The bulk of the cart, which can be seen on the left in the picture, is built from loose rushes; they are not tied on. When completed, the whole structure is trimmed to give a smooth appearance on each side. Two Rowan branches are fixed to the top and, on Saturday morning, the front is dressed with a decorated banner. A man chosen from the ranks of Saddleworth Morris Men sits astride the Rushcart for the day, supplied with ale in a copper kettle. The Rushcart is then pulled through the Saddleworth villages off Delph, Dobcross and Diggle by morris men invited from all over Britain and, sometimes, from overseas. 150 men pull on the "stangs" fixed to strong rope which, in turn, is fixed to the cart. 934412 933931 933889 933955