Well Dressing is a Derbyshire custom that attracts locals and tourists alike. It takes a great deal of dedication and skill from village and townspeople to produce these transient pieces of art.
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The custom of well dressing is restricted largely to Derbyshire and areas nearby.It is not clear exactly when it began but it is generally accepted that the village of Tissington revived well dressing in the mid 14th century. Well dressing celebrates the source(s) of clean water in a village or town. It is now strongly linked with the Christian Church but may have its roots in Pagan worship. During well dressing, the local well or spring is decorated with a picture made from plant materials - berries, petals, leaves and in the case of Holymoorside entire flowers.
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Dressing a well takes a great deal of planning by the locals. After the planning stage, it can take the dressing team a week or so to put together the picture that will last for only a week or two at most. A wooden frame is soaked (traditionally in the local river or stream) and filled with soft clay. The outline of the picture is transferred to the clay and then the ‘petallers’ take over. They skilfully add the colour using a variety of plant materials to arrive at the finished article.
Please click here for images of Well Dressing in the Peak District. |
