Th Sweeps Festival began at dawn today with the traditional Jack in the Green awakening ceremony.

Jack, a 7ft effigy clad in greenery, was woken by teams of Morris dancers and sweeps at the Blue Bell Hill picnic area at 5.32am.

It continues a tradition which dates back 400 years to the chimney sweeps’ traditional holiday. Jack would walk with the sweeps in the parade, which would continue with a procession through the streets of Rochester.

Revived

In 1868 the Climbing Boys’ Act made it illegal to employ young boys to carry out the trade, so the traditional procession began to fade, with the final celebration being held in the early 1900s.

Businessman Gordon Newton, a keen historian, revived Rochester’s Sweeps Festival in 1981 and has developed it into what it is today – an extravaganza of traditional Britain, attended by visitors from all over the country.

Mr Newton is now festival producer and plays melodeon for several Morris sides.

Rochester’s Sweeps Festival is the largest May Day celebration of its kind in the country, bringing together street entertainers, local chimney sweeps and live music. It is also generally regarded as the largest gathering of Morris dancers in the world.

Among the musical highlights this year will be performances by folk star Kate Rusby, tomorrow, and folk/rock heroes Strawbs, supported by Chatham singer-songwriter Lupen Crook, on Sunday. These both take place in the concert marquee at Rochester Castle Gardens.

The festival will finish with a procession through Rochester on Bank Holiday Monday . This will start from the Castle Gardens at 2.45pm.

For full details of this year’s Sweeps Festival and to download a brochure visit www.medway.gov.uk/sweepsfestival