An ancient and unique Derbyshire custom |
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 Bitain into new cultures and new customs?
However well dressing began, it was banned by the early
Chistians 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 this year. There are several well dressings which occur
over the same dates, so during your visit to Derbyshire you should
be able to visit at least one!
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The Mayor and the
Bishop of Derby at the blessing ceremony
Blessing Service
The unique
tradition of well dressing in Derby Market Place was marked with
the blessing ceremony by the Bishop of Derby.
The theme of the city's decoration in 1997 was Wright of
Derby's painting "A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery", and
forms part of Derby's celebration of the bi-centenary of the
artist.
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| Date |
1999 Well Dressing Locations |
Blessing Service |
| 3-8 May |
Dale Abbey |
2pm 3 May |
| 3-10 May |
Newborough |
11am 3 May |
| 8-9 May |
Milford |
- |
| 8-12 May |
Waingroves |
10.30am 8 May |
| 13-19 May |
Tissington |
10.45am 13 May |
| 15-17 May |
Etwall |
12 noon 15 May |
| 29-31 May |
Endon |
1.30pm 29 May |
| 29 May-1 Jun |
Brakenfield |
- |
| 29 May- 2 Jun |
Chester Green (Derby) |
2pm 29 May |
| 29 May-4 Jun |
Middleton-by-Youlegreave |
6.30pm 30 May |
| 29 May-4 Jun |
Wirksworth |
11am 29 May |
| 29 May-5 Jun |
Monyash |
2pm 29 May |
| 29 May-6 Jun |
Ashford-in-the-Water |
2pm 30 May |
| 5-13 June |
Cressbrook |
2pm 6 June |
| 13-19 June |
Marston Montgomery |
1.30pm 13 June |
| 13-20 June |
Penistone |
2pm 13 June |
| 19-24 June |
Ripley |
11am 19 June |
| 19-24 June |
Youlgreave |
2.30pm 19 June |
| 19-25 June |
Mayfield |
11am 19 June |
| 19-26 June |
Chelmorton |
3pm 19 June |
| 19-26 June |
Tideswell |
3pm 19 June |
| 25-30 June |
Old Whittington |
7pm 25 June |
| 26 Jun-2 July |
Rowsley |
10.30am 27 June |
| 26 Jun-3 July |
Elmton |
2pm 26 June |
| 26 Jun-3 July |
Hope |
7pm 27 June |
| 26 Jun-5 July |
Bakewell |
2.30pm 27 June |
| 2-9 July |
Norbury Primary School |
3pm 2 July |
| 3-7 July |
Coal Aston |
12.30pm 3 July |
| 3-10 July |
Hathersage |
6pm 4 July |
| 3-11 July |
Chapel-en-le-Frith |
7.30pm 6 July |
| 3-12 July |
St Werburgh's House, Spondon |
11am 3 July |
| 4-12 July |
Dore |
3pm 11 July |
| 5-11 July |
Harthill |
7pm 5 July |
| 8-11 July |
Upper Langwith |
7pm 8 July |
| 10-14 July |
Pleasley (nr Bakewell) |
3pm 11 July |
| 10-16 July |
Riber |
11am 10 July |
| 10-16 July |
West Hallam |
2pm 10 July |
| 10-17 July |
Whitwell |
2pm 10 July |
| 10-17 July |
Bamford |
7pm 11 July |
| 11-17 July |
Brimington |
2.30pm 11 July |
| 14-21 July |
Buxton |
2pm 14 July |
| 14(pm)-21 July |
Peak Forest |
7pm 14 July |
| 15-22 July |
Pilsley (nr Bakewell) |
7pm 15 July |
| 16-22 July |
Dronfield Woodhouse |
6.30pm 16 July |
| 16-23 July |
Holmesfield Children's Well |
2.30pm 16 July |
| 16-25 July |
Cutthorpe (nr Chesterfield) |
6.30pm 16 July |
| 16-25 July |
Millthorpe (nr Holmesfield) |
7.30pm 16 July |
| 17-18 July |
Aston on Trent |
11am 17 July |
| 17-21 July |
Cowley Mission (nr Holmesfield) |
6.30pm 16 July |
| 17-22 July |
Belper |
6pm 18 July |
| 17-24 July |
Great Longstone (nr Monsal Head) |
2pm 17 July |
| 17-24 July |
Heath (nr Chesterfield) |
2.30pm 17 July |
| 17-24 July |
Bolsover |
To be advised |
| 17-25 July |
Little Longstone (nr Monsal Head) |
1.15pm 17 July |
| 17-25 July |
Ault Hucknall, Glapwell & Rowthorne |
2.30pm 17 July |
| 23-28 July |
Barlborough (nr Junct 30 of M1) |
7pm 23 July |
| 24-30 July |
Derby City |
10.30am 24 July |
| 24 Jul - 2 Aug |
Stoney Middleton |
3pm 24 July |
| 31 Jul - 4 Aug |
Chadkirk Chapel (Romiley, Stockport) |
2pm 31 July |
| 31 Jul - 6 Aug |
Bonsall (nr Matlock) |
2pm 1 Aug |
| 31 Jul-9 Aug |
Bradwell (nr Hope) |
7.15pm 1 Aug |
| 11-18 Aug |
Barlow (nr Chesterfield) |
6.30pm 11 Aug |
| 12-14 Aug |
Great Hucklow |
7pm 12 Aug |
| 21-28 Aug |
Taddington |
2.30pm 21 Aug |
| 26 Aug-3 Sept |
Holymoorside (nr Chesterfield) |
7pm 26 Aug |
| 28 Aug-4 Sept |
Eyam |
3pm 28 Aug |
| 28 Aug-4 Sept |
Mompesson Well, nr Eyam |
- |
| 28 Aug-5 Sept |
Foolow (nr Eyam) |
12.30pm 28 Aug |
| 28 Aug-5 Sept |
Wormhill (nr Buxton) |
7.15pm 28 Aug |
| 4-12 Sept |
Wardlow (nr Tideswell) |
2.15pm 5 Sept |
| 5-12 Sept |
Longnor (nr Buxton) |
6.45pm 5 Sept |
| 11-18 Sept |
Chesterfield |
10am 11 Sept |
| 11-18 Sept |
Hartington |
2.30pm 11 Sept |
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is believed to be correct and is supplied as a service to visitors
to the City of Derby web site. There may be errors or omissions for
which we cannot accept responsibility. Please inform me of any
errors or omissions and I will correct them. |
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