Where are well dressings in Derbyshire?
Tissington
The location identified most closely with well dressing is Tissington, Derbyshire, though the origins of the tradition are obscure.
What time of year is well dressing?
Well dressing starts in May – Tissington and Endon are two villages who dress their wells early in the year.
What are well dressing boards?
Every year throughout summer many villages in Derbyshire and Staffordshire decorate their wells and water sources—a custom known as well dressing. Villagers take large wooden boards, coat them in clay and press flower petals, twigs, seeds and other natural objects to create scenes from the Bible or fairy tales.
How do you make a well dressing?
What to do
- Soak the wooden board in a bucket of cold water overnight.
- Make sure you have protected the surface you are working on.
- Draw a square the same size on the piece of paper.
- Start at the bottom of your picture and stick the petals and natural materials in horizontal lines carefully in to the clay square.
Why are wells dressed?
Well dressings are thought to have originated as part of pagan festivals to give thanks for a reliable water supply. As time progressed the dressings started to be blessed and this custom often continues. The blessings usually take place on the first day the well dressing is placed on display.
How many peaks are in the Peak District?
List of hills in the Peak District
| Peak | Absolute height (m) | Relative height (m) |
|---|---|---|
| Kinder Scout | 636 | 496.6 |
| Bleaklow | 633 | 128 |
| Higher Shelf Stones | 621 | 15 |
| Grindslow Knoll | 601 | 15 |
What percentage of Derbyshire is white?
| Derbyshire | |
|---|---|
| Density | 401/km2 (1,040/sq mi) |
| Ethnicity | 96.0% White 2.3% S. Asian 1.7% Black, Mixed Race or Chinese |
| Non-metropolitan county | |
| County council | Derbyshire County Council |
What is Derbyshire famous for?
If you’re a history lover, Derbyshire may be famous for its picture-postcard quirky spa towns, such as Buxton and Matlock. However, if you were to crystalise it, Derbyshire is arguably most famous for its array of unique, stunning country houses that span the length and breadth of this beautiful county.
When to see the Well dressings in the Peak District?
Well Dressings can be found in most towns and villages in the Peak District and Derbyshire between the months of May to September. Below you’ll find a list of dates of the Wells Dressing week, but also dates and details of when you can go along an watch these extraordinary pieces…
Where are the Well dressings in Wormhill Derbyshire?
Wormhill has two well dressings, the James Brindley Memorial Well and Churchyard Well. Well dressing is an ancient custom only found in and around the borders of Derbyshire. It is the art of decorating springs or wells (and, in this case a canal) with pictures made from natural materials.
How are the wells in the Peak District made?
Every year, from May to September, the wells in each village are decorated with elaborate pictures. Each one is made entirely from natural materials such as flower petals, seeds, leaves, berries, mosses, wood and sheep wool.
Where was the first well dressing in England?
However, the village of Tissington in Derbyshire has records of some form of basic well dressing dating as far back as 1348, in thanks for the village escaping the Black Death that ravaged England at that time.