Everything about Well Dressing totally explained
Well Dressing is a
custom practised in rural
England in which
wells,
springs or other water sources are decorated with designs created from
flower petals. The custom is most closely associated with the
Peak District of the
English Midlands,
History
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.
In recent years the custom has been observed in the spring-water town of
Great Malvern where the many wells are dressed at the time of the
May Day celebrations.
Process
Wooden frames are constructed and covered with
clay, mixed with water and
salt. A design is sketched on paper, often of a
religious theme, and this is traced onto the clay. The picture is then filled in with natural materials, predominantly flower petals and
mosses, but also
beans,
seeds and small
cones. Wirksworth is one of the very few towns where the strict use of only natural materials is still observed.
Each group uses their own technique, with some areas mandating that only natural materials be used while others feel free to use modern materials to simplify production.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Well Dressing'.
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