WELL DRESSING
This beautiful custom is all but unique to Derbyshire. Once known as 'well flowering', it's thought to have originated in pagan times. Did the remote hills of Derbyshire escape the waves of invasion by Romans, Saxons, Danes and Normans that swept other parts of Britain into new cultures and new customs?
However well dressing began, it was banned by the early Christians along with all other forms of water worship - but the tradition refused to die.
So what is it? At its simplest, it's the art of decorating springs and wells with pictures made from local plant life. The dressings are set in clay-filled wooden trays, mounted on a wooden frame. They take hours to complete, and villagers often work through the night to finish in the early hours of the first festival morning. Some villagers dress their wells in secret. Others invite you to come along and watch - the best way to find out how it's done.
The well dressing season spans from May through to late September each year. There are several well dressings which occur over the same dates.
Although the tradition of decorating wells on special occasions or as an offering for good water is common to many parts of the world, it is in Derbyshire where it first took the distinctive form of boards which are decorated with elaborate pictures and designs formed of flower petals and other natural materials.
The custom is now common in Derbyshire villages and has spread to neighbouring counties, where this remarkable tradition remains an active part of village life today. A few other places in England have taken up the tradition, for example Bisley in Gloucestershire.
Very occasionally, the art is duplicated is places further afield: often in a twin of a Derbyshire village, for example Die in France, the twin of Wirksworth in Derbyshire.
Seeing the Wells at their BestBeing made almost wholly of natural materials, the Well Dressings do not remain pristine for long. With proper care and attention, they can survive the rigours of the English summer weather for several days, but by the end of a week they are often past their best.
2008 Calendar
July 5th to 10th - Coal Aston
Situated on the green at the junction of Eckington Road and Drury Lane opposite the Royal Oak pub.
Blessing at 1.45pm on 5th July.
July 11th to 18th - Dronfield
Situated in the lower courtyard of the Forge Shopping Centre.
Blessing at 11.00am on 11th July.
July 12th to 18th - Dronfield Woodhouse
Situated on the green on the south side of Carr Lane.
Blessing at 6.00pm on 11th July.
July 12th to 20th - Millthorpe
Situated on the green facing the road junction.
Blessing at 7.30pm on 11th July.
July 12th to 20th Holmesfield
Situated in the small public garden at the side of The Angel pub.
Blessing at 3.15pm on 11th July.
August 14th to 19th - Barlow - 3 Wells
Situated:
- at the Chesterfield end of the village, near the church and the Old Pump pub, opposite the junction with Wilkin Hill
- at the Methodist Church, on the hill leading down into Commonside
- in Commonside, at the junction with Valley Rise, opposite the Tickled Trout pub
Blessing at 6.30pm on 13th August.
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