Chapter X: Part V: Later Parsons of Grasmere (3)

An account of the ceremony at Warton, earlier still,[206] gives an interesting variation of custom. Here the floral decorations were not separate from the rushes, but covered the bundles as crowns. The smartest of them, trimmed with fine ribbon and flowers, were carried in front by girls. The crowns were detached in the church, and after the strewing of the rushes were left as ornaments. Artificial trimmings were in use in Grasmere in 1828, for the stranger's eye had been "particularly attracted by the paper garlands which I found deposited in the vestry; they were curiously and tastefully cut, and I was almost tempted to buy one of them." The sketch by Allom of the Ambleside Festival in 1833 shows how elaborate and artificial the bearings had become.[207] But taste and meaning could not have been altogether banished for certain sacred emblems and devices were cherished; and Moses in the Bulrushes, and the Serpent in the Wilderness--the latter wholly composed of rushes--which are still carried as "bearings" at Grasmere, are said to have been handed down from a forgotten past. The same is claimed for the Ambleside Harp, the strings of which are contrived from the pith of the rush--the "sieve" of the olden days of rush-lights.

[206] MS. account, given in Whitaker's _Richmondshire._

[207] _Westmorland and Cumberland, etc., Illustrated_, 1833.

It has been seen that the joint payment by the townships for the boon service ceased when the actual rush-strewing ceased. But the Festival continued, though it was clearly changing its character and becoming the children's Feast of Flowers. This is shown by Grasmere's special contribution to the occasion. The annual gift, after rising a little, is entered in 1819 as 3s. 9d., "To Rushbearers' Gingerbread paid Geo: Walker." From that time Grasmere's expenditure for "Rushbearers bread" is a constant though varying item. In 1839 it dropped as low as 1s. 6d., which, supposing two-pennyworth to be the amount given to each child, would represent but nine bearers. From this low figure however it rose; and the languishing Festival was revived, if not saved, by the munificence of Mr. Thomas Dawson, of Allan Bank, who began about this time to present each bearer with 6d.[208] The gingerbread item was often 6s.; in 1847 it was 9s. 10d.; in 1851 it is set down as "To Rushbearers 62," 10s. 4d. In 1856 13s. 6d. was paid to A. Walker for "Rushbearers Cake," and in the next two years the climax was reached by the sums £1. 1s. 5d. and £1. 1s. The long-continued item then abruptly ceases--seventeen years after the provision made for ale by the whole parish ceased--swept away no doubt by the revolution in church-management and church-rates, and for thirteen years there is a gap. When, however, the ancient but now resisted church-rate was dropped in 1871, and all expenses were defrayed from the large and gladly-paid offertory, the church again provided for the Festival. The expenses were now put down under "Rushbearing," as Bells 6s., Wilson 8s., Cakes 19s.; amounting to £1 13s., towards which the collection at the church service (for the first time established) furnished 16s. 8d. Next year there was a marked increase: Band £2, Joiners 8s., Ringers 6s., Gingerbread £1. 5s. 10d., and Baldry 4s. 1d.; total £4. 3s. 11d.; collection, £2. 18s. 1d. The payment to joiners must have been for making the frames of the bearings, which have assumed many varied forms.

[208] The wardens' accounts, given below, practically agree with
the story as told in the _Rushbearing_ pamphlet, p. 24, where
the Festival of 1885 is described, but apparently the date 1834
should be 1839. "Before leaving the church-yard, the children,
to the number of about 115, were each given a sixpenny piece, in
accordance with the custom that has prevailed for over the last
fifty years. The origin of this gift of sixpence will perhaps be
of interest to many. In 1834 there were only seven rushbearers,
and it seemed that this revered custom was on the decline. Mr.
Dawson, of London, and owner of Allan Bank, was present, and
he gave each of the rushbearers sixpence, which gift he has
continued yearly ever since. The next year the numbers of bearers
was increased to fifty, and year by year this figure has been
added to. It is said that Mr. Dawson does not intend to continue
his gift any longer, so that it appears the year 1885 will be
the last one in which the children will receive their brand new
sixpence, unless someone takes the matter in hand, or Mr. Dawson
reconsiders his decision."

The Festival has, since 1885, taken place on the Saturday next to St. Oswald's Day. The procession, from which everything gaudy and irreverent has been eliminated, now makes a beautiful spectacle. Children of all ages take part in it, even tiny toddlers, supported by parent or grandmother. The floral burdens are deposited in the church and the service held, when all disperse; and on the next Monday the children have their feast with games and prizes, paid for by the united contribution of the parishioners.

The Walker family, who for so long provided the gingerbread, are remembered to have had a little shop--the only one in the place--and it stood near the present one of Messrs. Gibson.[209] Presumably, Dinah, the wife, baked the cake; and George, in the manner of the time, pursued the additional trade of tailor. Mrs. Mary Dixon, of Town End, was the gingerbread maker for many years, but has recently given it up.

[209] A supply of Kendal wigs (a special cake still made in
Hawkshead) came to the shop once a week, as Miss Greenwood
remembers.

* * * * *

"Grasmere Churchwardens' Account General Charge, 1834: to
Rushes, 2/6. Grasmere in Part: to Gingerbread for Rushbearers,
5/-. General Charge, 1835: to Rushes, 2/6. Grasmere in Part:
to Gingerbread for Rushbearers, 4/6. 1836, General Charge: to
Rushes, 2/6. Grasmere in Part: to Gingerbread for Rushbearers,
3/6. 1837, General Charge, Grasmere in Part: to Gingerbread for
Rushbearers, 3/-. 1838, General Charge, Grasmere in Part: to
Ginger Bread for Rushbearers, 3/9. 1839, General Charge: to Two
Years getting Rushes at 2/6, 5/-. Grasmere in Part: to Ginger
Bread for Rushbearers, 1/6."