is a form of dance from Lancashire, Cheshire and Yorkshire. Originally these dances were incorporated into Christian religious festivals and by the early 19th century played an important role in the annual ceremony associated with the changing of rush flooring in the churches of the area. The new rushes were loaded onto a cart and taken in procession to the church. Dozens of dancers would process through the streets accompanying the cart wearing wooden-soled clogs, which were then everyday wear. Towards the end of the 19th century, improvements in church flooring led to a decline of the rush cart processions, but the dances continued in their own right. With the increasing industrialisation of the North West, communities became greatly enlarged and intercommunity rivalry commonplace. Clog "Morris" thrived under these conditions and developed new steps, formations and more refined and elaborate costumes. The First World War dramatically ended these halcyon days and the tradition gradually declined, however the last thirty years or so has seen a great revival of Morris dancing and interest in English traditions.