The Gazetteer
Westmorland
Ambleside - Rushbearing on the first Saturday in July at St Mary's Church.
Appleby in Westmorland - Horse Fair. Harness races and celebrations leading up to the sale day on the second Wednesday in June - Contact Appleby TIC, +44 (0) 17683 51177.
Grasmere - Rushbearing on the 3rd Saturday in July, or the Saturday after the last day of school summer term. At 3.30pm a band accompanies the procession of children carrying 'bearings', frames of rushes and flowers, from the school to St Oswald's Church. There is a service at 4.10pm followed by rushbearing gingerbread. The 'bearings' remain in the church for several days. The procession commemorates the renewing of the rush floors in the church keeping it warm and dry. Contact +44(0)15394 35326.
Great Musgrave - Rushbearing on the first Saturday in July at St Theobold's Church.
The Green Men of Westmorland
On Twelfth Night in Brough, flaming torches were tied to holly branches and carried among cheering crowds until the fragments could be taken off by the throng around the village inns. At Crosthwaite, St Kentigern Church has a Green Man on the 14th century font.
Lyth Valley - Damson Day. Usually held on the weekend before easter, this event was started by the Westmorland Damson Association in 1998 to prevent the loss of the damson trees in the Lyth valley and to set up a co-operative to market damson products. It is a celebration of damsons with damson products such as bread, chocolates, wine, gin, beer, syrup, ice cream, bottled damsons and jam. There will be craft sales and guided walks of the Lyth Valley. Contact Mrs Helen Cartmell, organiser, on +44(0)1539 568428, or by e-mail: lowerludderburn [at] btinternet.com. Read more about Damson orchards in Westmorland.
Burton-in-Kendal, Kendal, Ravenstonedale, Shap.
Warcop - Rushbearing, St Columba's Church on St Peter's Day, (29th June) unless a Sunday then 28th June. Known as Peter's Day. A procession headed by a band and banners and with girls wearing crowns of flowers and boys carrying crosses of rushes. The crosses are laid around the altar where they remain over the following Sunday. They are then hung at the back of the church until a few days before the next Peter's Day.
Apple Day, October 21st
Find events in Westmorland and across the country on the APPLE DAY EVENTS LIST
or read about Westmorland Orchards and Orchard Produce
TELL US about an event you are holding : email info [at] commonground.org.uk
