Traditional Derbyshire Well Dressing in Bakewell
From these pictures' it's hard to tell, but these are all made by local people by applying an inch or so of a special damp clay mix to the backboard, and then applying thousands of flower petals, leaves, seeds, and other natural objects. There are no paints or plastics used, much like the floats for the Tournament of Roses Parade in California. The clay keeps the petals moist and vibrant for about a week, and then the clay starts cracking and it has to be taken down.
The last stop on our 2004 trip to England was Bakewell in Derbyshire. It proved to be an excellent base for exploring the southern Peak District, with good bus connections to Chatsworth, Monsal, Eyam, and other attractions. We liked the area so much that we returned to Derbyshire for two weeks in 2006, and spent our first three nights at the Rutland Arms..
While we were there, we saw several examples of the Traditional Derbyshire Well Dressing. The origins of the tradition are alternatively said to lie in pagan tradition or in giving thanks for the purity of the water drawn from certain wells during the period of the Black Death. It is often said to have originated in Tissington, Derbyshire, though other claims can be made for Eyam and Stoney Middleton. Whatever its origins it was historically a custom exclusive in England to the Peak District of Derbyshire.
The custom almost died out by the early years of the 20th century but it was revived in the 1920s and 1930s largely through the travails of local Headmaster Mr Edwin Shimwell. The custom has since spread outside its traditional heartland to numerous villages and small towns in Derbyshire, Staffordshire, South Yorkshire, Cheshire, and even as far afield as Much Wenlock in Shropshire. wikipedia.org/wiki/Well_dressing
Traditional Derbyshire Well Dressing in Bakewell
From these pictures' it's hard to tell, but these are all made by local people by applying an inch or so of a special damp clay mix to the backboard, and then applying thousands of flower petals, leaves, seeds, and other natural objects. There are no paints or plastics used, much like the floats for the Tournament of Roses Parade in California. The clay keeps the petals moist and vibrant for about a week, and then the clay starts cracking and it has to be taken down.
The last stop on our 2004 trip to England was Bakewell in Derbyshire. It proved to be an excellent base for exploring the southern Peak District, with good bus connections to Chatsworth, Monsal, Eyam, and other attractions. We liked the area so much that we returned to Derbyshire for two weeks in 2006, and spent our first three nights at the Rutland Arms..
While we were there, we saw several examples of the Traditional Derbyshire Well Dressing. The origins of the tradition are alternatively said to lie in pagan tradition or in giving thanks for the purity of the water drawn from certain wells during the period of the Black Death. It is often said to have originated in Tissington, Derbyshire, though other claims can be made for Eyam and Stoney Middleton. Whatever its origins it was historically a custom exclusive in England to the Peak District of Derbyshire.
The custom almost died out by the early years of the 20th century but it was revived in the 1920s and 1930s largely through the travails of local Headmaster Mr Edwin Shimwell. The custom has since spread outside its traditional heartland to numerous villages and small towns in Derbyshire, Staffordshire, South Yorkshire, Cheshire, and even as far afield as Much Wenlock in Shropshire. wikipedia.org/wiki/Well_dressing